Workington’s Will Bowe made it ninth time lucky today when he won the English Men’s County Champion of Champions title, scoring five-under par over 36 holes at Woodhall Spa.
“Finally,” said Bowe, after holing a knee-knocking three footer for par on the 18th on the Hotchkin course to win by a shot with scores of 70 and 71.
The 32-year-old has just won his county championship for the ninth time and has played in the Champion of Champions event on every occasion – but has had to wait until now for his first win.
“I am very proud to win it, over the moon,” said Bowe, who is the second Cumbrian to take the title. He follows the 1977 champion Mike Walls who also represented Workington.
Bowe’s win broke a logjam at the top of the leaderboard, which at one point in the closing stages of the tournament, saw your players tied at the top. He made his crucial move when he birdied 16 and 17, but then had a long wait on the 18th tee.
‘I am very proud to win it, over the moon’ “My knees were knocking then,” he said. “Everything goes through your mind and I’d just had two birdies and I wanted to get going.
“I didn’t know if I had done enough but I knew five-under would be round about the mark.”
Behind him, Lancashore’s Ian Kenwright (Haydock Park), won the tussle for second place, beating Cambridgeshire’s James Reeson (Brampton Park) on count back after they finished on four-under.
Cornwall’s Conor Wilson (Perranporth) was fourth on three-under, while Norfolk’s Simon Clark (Gt Yarmouth & Caister) was fifth on two under, having led the field after 27 holes.
Kenwright, who will represent Lancashire at the men’s County Finals, enjoyed getting in the mix. He said: “Win or lose it’s been a good weekend.”
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