Midland Golf Union
Jamie Bower takes Open title
Jamie Bower (Meltham Golf Club) won the 2013 Midland Open Amateur Championship with an impressive 66 in the final round at Gay Hill Golf Club to head the field by 11 clear strokes, finishing on 268 and the only player to break par in all four rounds.
Jamie held the lead at the halfway point on 131 with a 66 at Gay Hill followed by a 65 at Fulford Heath ahead of a further 14 players recording an under par score. Jack Davis (Aston Wood) was in sight of Bower only 4 strokes behind on 135 with solid rounds of 69 and 66. Aaron Wright (Enville) on 137 and Nick Marsh (Huddersfield) on 138 were still in touch with the leaders. A number of players all breaking par at the halfway point were still hopeful of a good finish to stay in contention.
With 40 players heading into the second day, expectations were high, but the strengthening wind suggested it was going to be a tougher day and after the morning round a few of the players had changed places, however 10 players still managed to break par. The best of the morning scores being John Kemp (Woburn) with a 67 to close the gap on Bower who held his nerve to record a steady 71. With a 69 for Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park), Toby Crisp (Links Golf Club) and Russell Giblett (Girton) they were edging closer to the leader. Aaron Wright and Nick Marsh both carded a 70 to maintain their push for the title but the 71 by Bower meant he held a 4 stroke lead over John Kemp going into the final round.
Conditions were getting tougher and the pressure was mounting. With only 5 players breaking par in the final round the top ten places were changing constantly. In the end it was only the top ten that finished on level or better. Jamie Bower sealed his victory with a stunning final round of 66 to finish on 268 (-18) to leave the rest of field 11 strokes adrift. Second place went to Aaron Wright on 279, third place was Nick Marsh on 280 and John Kemp fourth also on 280. Daniel Brown was a further stroke behind on 281 for fifth place and Ashley Chesters sixth on 283.
Congratulations also go to Jack Gaunt (Drayton Park) who had a hole in one on the par 3 thirteenth hole at Gay Hill on Friday. A sweetly struck 5 iron was enough to record the only ace of the championship.
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Jamie Bower with the Open Championship trophy
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