England Golf: Handy birdies his way to national title

Durham’s Christopher Handy signed off with a birdie to underline a three-shot victory in the English boys’ County Champion of Champions tournament at Woodhall Spa.

The 18-year-old from South Moor – who had 10 birdies during the day – was one over par for 36 holes ov the Hotchkin course. He finished three clear of Conor White, from Shropshire & Herefordshire, and Jack Dyer from Essex.

“I definitely wanted to win this,” said Handy. “It caps off a nice season.”

The win also made a great birthday present for his mother, Anne, who spent the day watching her son.

‘I definitely wanted to win this. It caps off a nice season.’ Handy made his intentions clear from the start when he returned the low score of the day with a first round of one-under 72. He started and ended the round with a birdie and held a two-shot lead over Dyer at the halfway stage.

In fact, he played so well that it gave him problems with his putting. “I got off to a good start and hit to about 3ft four times and I didn’t really have a putt for ages,” said Handy, who reckoned he three-putted on five occasions during the day.

In the second round he was also under par for the front nine, but came home in three-over, signing off with another 18th hole birdie.

“I played well on the front nine in both rounds, but missed fairways on the back and if you do that on this course it makes it hard. The wind switched this afternoon and made the tough holes a bit longer.”

However, he enjoyed the luxury of knowing that he had a very comfortable cushion as he played the closing holes: “So I just tried to hit it down the fairway.”

Handy, who represented England at U16 level, has just taken his A Levels. He plans to take a gap year and then hopes to get a golf scholarship to study in the USA.