Fit-again Uzzell storms to Brabazon victory

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18th May 2008

A week is a long time in golf and it paid off for Steven Uzzell who won the Brabazon Trophy, supported by Approved Golf Properties, in a canter at sunny Trevose in Cornwall

The 24 year old Yorkshireman shot rounds of 64 and 67 in the day for an aggregate of 197, 19 under par, to win by four strokes from Benjamin Hebert of France, the European Amateur champion.

A week ago, Uzzell was forced to pull out of the England team on his debut and was not fit enough to support his team-mates on their victory over France at Frilford Heath.

The left-hander arrived in Cornwall not knowing if his back would allow him to compete and he didn’t even have a practice round.

“I just walked some of the holes but the back has been fine,” said Uzzell. “A week ago I was in agony, now I’ve got a title and a lovely trophy to take home.”

Uzzell played some stunning golf as the sun at last bathed the north Cornish course. He had an eagle and 14 birdies in 36 holes, but it was his putting that proved the key to his victory.

“I putted really well,” he added. “I knew that if I could keep away from the bogeys and take on the par fives it would be fine. I dropped a shot at the 12th but after we got to the 16th I knew I had a good cushion.”

He even managed to stage a grandstand finish, firing his approach to six feet and holing out for his final birdie in front of a large and appreciative gallery.

“This win means a lot to me,” Uzzell added. “This is one of the two major English championships and I’m so used to seeing my mate Danny Willett winning that I’ve got one over him now.”

Uzzell also paid tribute to his caddie, England A Squad colleague Adam Wainwright. “The best thing Adam did this week was to miss the cut,” said Uzzell. “It was great to have him on the bag and to have another opinion on the lines on the greens.”

Northern Ireland’s Paul Cutler and Tom Lewis from Hertfordshire finished tied third on 204 to share the Henriques Salver for the best scores by British and Irish players aged under 20.

Both players came to the 18th green needing a birdie to take the trophy outright and after both missed the green they got up-and-down, Cutler for 67 and Lewis with 69.