West Sussex Golf Club greenkeeper James Lynch won the BIGGA National Championship at the first attempt following two wonderful rounds of golf at Enville Golf Club in Staffordshire.
Taking place on October 10-11, the BIGGA-hosted event was sponsored by the association’s official golf partner, Origin Amenity Solutions.
Lynch pipped three-time winner David Simpson of Crieff Golf Club by a single stroke to lift the BIGGA National Challenge Trophy.
Playing in his first BIGGA National Championship, Lynch shot back-to-back 74s to card a 4-over-par total and pip three-time winner David Simpson (Crieff GC) by a single stroke to lift the BIGGA National Challenge Trophy. Oly Browning (Queenwood Golf Club) was a shot further back in third.
In the Stableford competition, Tyler Holmes came out on top after shooting a combined total of 73 points, while Anthony Duffield (Ham Manor GC) was second with 68 points.
Lynch, who plays off scratch, said: “It feels amazing and I’m so happy to have won such a prestigious tournament. It’s my first year that I’ve been playing in it and it was a battle to the end. The lead changed hands throughout the round and I’m so relieved that I was able to win. My thanks go to BIGGA, Origin Amenity Solutions and Enville Golf Club for hosting such an amazing tournament.”
Lynch was accompanied throughout the two rounds by his fiancée, April. The pair are due to marry in August next year, but with Lynch set to defend the championship at Saunton Golf Club next September, he will have to convince April that Devon is a nice place to enjoy their honeymoon!
Andy Wood, golf course manager at Enville Golf Club, said: “It was a pleasure to host the BIGGA National Championship sponsored by Origin Amenity Solutions. We always enjoy preparing the course for a championship, but to host this prestigious event for fellow greenkeepers is a real honour and I hope everyone enjoyed their visit to Enville. Our greenkeeping team has done the club proud in setting up for this event, which gave them an opportunity to showcase their work to fellow professionals.”
On behalf of Origin Amenity Solutions, Glen Howard added: “It has been a fantastic two days. The course is looking amazing, we’ve been blessed with great weather and I’ve witnessed some cracking golf. It is a privilege to sponsor the BIGGA National Championship, which brings together golfers of all standards from across the association. It gives us an opportunity to catch up with people from within the industry, which I and the rest of the OAS team find invaluable. Congratulations to all the trophy winners, thank you to Enville Golf Club for a warm welcome and well done to all involved, particularly the greenkeeping team, who did a superb job.”