Matthew Dodd-Berry won the Dutch Junior Open by three strokes on Saturday, at Golf Club Toxandria in the Netherlands.
The 19-year-old shot 11-under through 72 holes to secure the title ahead of local favourite Loran Appel, who previously won the Dutch Under 22 Championship.
England’s Harry Crockett (Addington Palace) finished third at the event on six-under.
Nineteen-year-old Dodd-Berry’s opening round was a strong four-under 68 with five birdies and just a single bogey, as he led by one shot, before a second-round six-under saw him lead at the halfway stage. In the third round, Appel managed to tie Dodd-Berry’s score, as both finished at nine-under overall, but in the final round, the England Boys’ player pulled ahead with the second-lowest score of the day (70) to win the title.
Dodd-Berry’s tournament saw him rack up 21 birdies and 41 pars, with a scoring average of 3.19, 3.85 and 4.50 on par-3s, 4s and 5s respectively. Crockett meanwhile racked up an eagle, 15 birdies and 46 pars in his 72 holes.
Elswehere, England’s Will Coxon (Carus Green) and Zach Little (West Herts) finished in tied-16th and tied-19th respectively at +8 and +10.
Speaking of his triumph, Dodd-Berry said: “It’s my first big international win. I’ve won smaller competitions over the years but I’d never won on an international stage like that before, so it was nice to get that out the way!
“It was almost mentally a relief, and prove to myself that I can do it and give myself a confidence boost. I had the mindset of shooting the lowest number I could, and if it’s good enough, it’s good enough and if it’s not, then I’ve done all I can do.
“I got off to a strong start and was leading early but there was a point where I made three bogeys in a row right before the toughest stretch of the course so I was a bit nervous, but I was able to collect myself and make some solid pars.”
Asked how he celebrated the win, Dodd-Berry added: “I had my dinner on the 18th green! We were given lobster and also a bottle of champagne which I brought back for the other boys who were there with me, and then my host family congratulated me. I phoned my parents and they were actually in the grandstand on the 18th at The Open so couldn’t talk. They just replied with the thumbs up!
“I’d like to say a big thank you to my parents and also Gareth Jenkins and the team at England Golf for giving me the opportunity to play, as I wouldn’t have been able to without them.”
Dodd-Berry is set to play at the English Amateur Championship between August 1-6 at Ferndown Golf Club and Broadstone Golf Club.
