fbpx
Golf ball smashed through window

Amateur golfer wins prestigious trophy after most bizarre possible start

Richard Knightly triumphed at the Senior Scratch Cup at Laytown & Bettystown, but took an extraordinary route to the trophy
 

Locking your keys in your own car. You’ve all done it before, but always wonder how on earth you managed it.

Richard Knightly was left in this quandary before playing in the Laytown & Bettystown Senior Scratch Cup in Ireland at the weekend.

The 35-year-old, who has been a member at Royal Dublin since the age of 12, took a 7-iron out of his bag to hit a few balls in the net, as there is no range at the County Meath venue.

Down went his car boot door with his clubs and car keys now locked inside. Things were made more awkward when realising he needed to drive to the 14th tee for the shotgun start.

“It was about 7.30 in the morning,” Richard told NCG. “I didn’t have any stuff and I couldn’t even drive home if I wanted to – which was very funny.

“And then if you ring the AA on a Sunday morning at 7.30, they’re not going to come too quickly.

“There’s a little tiny window in the back of the car – the irony is I know this because someone tried to break into my car before and that’s how they got in – so I knew if you go through that window, you can pop it open.

“The first time, it didn’t break at all, and the second time with the 7-iron, I popped the window. I got my hand in and got the door open.”

Knightly could be forgiven for thinking this was the start of a day to forget, but this couldn’t have been further from the truth as he made an almighty recovery.

He shot rounds of 73 and 69 to finish at the top of the leaderboard and could’ve won the tournament outright if it wasn’t for a bogey on the last hole.

But Richard, a pharmacist off the course, entered a playoff with Caolan Rafferty of Dundalk which he eventually won on the third hole.

Now a +4 handicapper, Richard has a busy schedule ahead with the West of Ireland Championship at County Sligo and the Lytham Trophy on the horizon.

He will hope to begin these tournaments in a far less stressful fashion…

Do the Ryder Cup captains actually matter?

Do the Ryder Cup captains actually matter?

Latest Posts

World golf tour

19th hole

It’s Tiger and Rory’s new venture – but what is TGL golf?

Read full article - It’s Tiger and Rory’s new venture – but what is TGL golf?
Rose Zhang Solheim Cup singles tee times

19th hole

Check out Rose Zhang’s incredible Pebble Beach tee-shot trick

Read full article - Check out Rose Zhang’s incredible Pebble Beach tee-shot trick
dp world tour hole-in-one

19th hole

Was this DP World Tour pro denied a hole-in-one by his own pitch mark?

Read full article - Was this DP World Tour pro denied a hole-in-one by his own pitch mark?
rory mcilroy hole in one

19th hole

‘I’d rather have trophies than golf balls’: Rory McIlroy wasn’t sentimental after PGA Tour ace

Read full article - ‘I’d rather have trophies than golf balls’: Rory McIlroy wasn’t sentimental after PGA Tour ace
travelers championship

19th hole

PGA Tour star withdraws from Travelers Championship after horrific in-flight ordeal

Read full article - PGA Tour star withdraws from Travelers Championship after horrific in-flight ordeal
stadium golf tour

19th hole

Stadium Golf: A ‘drinking beer’ idea that became a phenomenon

Read full article - Stadium Golf: A ‘drinking beer’ idea that became a phenomenon
Phil Mickelson

19th hole

Which golfers receive the most online abuse?

Read full article - Which golfers receive the most online abuse?
2024 open championship

19th hole

Here’s how to get a ticket for the 2024 Open Championship

Read full article - Here’s how to get a ticket for the 2024 Open Championship
gordon sargent

19th hole

How and why?! Top amateur suffers awful luck as short putt defies gravity at US Open

Read full article - How and why?! Top amateur suffers awful luck as short putt defies gravity at US Open