Willow Valley member Tom Calvert produced a magnificent finish to win The Royal Birkdale Junior Open with a gross 74 (net 71).As expected the Championship Course, venue of The Open nine times and most recently in 2008 when Padraig Harrington won his second Claret Jug, was in immaculate condition on a glorious day for golf.
120 junior players from all over the country, with handicaps of 4.9 or less, arrived to try and win the coveted title of Royal Birkdale Junior Open Champion.
After scrambling a par at the tricky first hole Calvert played steady golf to reach the turn in 38, helped by a tap in birdie at the long sixth.
At the start of the back nine there was nothing to indicate the finish that would come over the last four holes as two consecutive bogies on 13 and 14 left him at six over for his round and seemingly out of contention. However, despite a poor tee shot at 15, a chip-in birdie got him back on track which was then followed by a routine par at 16.
Birkdale is renowned for its last two holes and after getting up and down from just short of the 17th for another birdie he then played a driver and majestic 4-iron to three feet at the last and calmly rolled in his putt for eagle to finish with a two over par 74 gross. Calvert had played the last four holes in four-under par!
Calvert led in the clubhouse and then had an anxious wait as half the field had still to come in but despite further scores of 74 they could not beat Tom on a countback after his great finish.
Tom is pictured above with Royal Birkdale’s immediate past captain receiving the trophy, silver medal and voucher for £200.
After scrambling a par at the tricky first hole Calvert played steady golf to reach the turn in 38, helped by a tap in birdie at the long sixth.
At the start of the back nine there was nothing to indicate the finish that would come over the last four holes as two consecutive bogies on 13 and 14 left him at six over for his round and seemingly out of contention. However, despite a poor tee shot at 15, a chip-in birdie got him back on track which was then followed by a routine par at 16.
Birkdale is renowned for its last two holes and after getting up and down from just short of the 17th for another birdie he then played a driver and majestic 4-iron to three feet at the last and calmly rolled in his putt for eagle to finish with a two over par 74 gross. Calvert had played the last four holes in four-under par!
Calvert led in the clubhouse and then had an anxious wait as half the field had still to come in but despite further scores of 74 they could not beat Tom on a countback after his great finish.
Tom is pictured above with Royal Birkdale’s immediate past captain receiving the trophy, silver medal and voucher for £200.
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