Amateur golfer wins prestigious trophy after most bizarre possible start
By Matt Chivers
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…
Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
