The 2017 British Open Champion is Declan Bransby. The 15 year old from Croydon DIsc Golf Club started the 9 hole final 4 shots behind joint leaders Chris O'Brien and Blaer Asgeirsson. With high winds on a tough technical course there was always likely to be some drama, but who would have expected that after 5 holes there would be a 4 way tie for the lead with the 5th player being just one shot back? Bransby made crucial tough puts on holes 15 and 16 to put himself into a share of the lead, and then took the outright lead when he salvaged par with a monster putt on 17, whilst Luton missed his from 6m. Great drives by Luton and Bransby on 18 put them just outside the 10m circle and with the new elevated green and raging wind, Bransby wisely opted to lay up for a safe 3, and that was enough to become the youngest ever winner of the British Open and take home £375 of the £1400 prize money pot.
In the womens division, Sue Underwood won by a wide margin. The Masters division (40+) was dominated by Jester Wilson after Icelands Thorvaldur Thorarinsson's challenge fell away in the 3rd round. Quarry Park's Mark Davis took an early lead in the Amateur division with a 59 on the Black course layout, but fellow club member Phil Blount slashed that lead with a 54 on the Blue layout and then edged ahead in the third round and sealed the victory with a solid final 9.
In the womens division, Sue Underwood won by a wide margin. The Masters division (40+) was dominated by Jester Wilson after Icelands Thorvaldur Thorarinsson's challenge fell away in the 3rd round. Quarry Park's Mark Davis took an early lead in the Amateur division with a 59 on the Black course layout, but fellow club member Phil Blount slashed that lead with a 54 on the Blue layout and then edged ahead in the third round and sealed the victory with a solid final 9.