Mason on top in the Golf College Open
The Inaugural Golf College Open competition took place on the 9th and 10th October at Lindfield Golf Club.
This competition was a 36 hole scratch competition open to all students of The Golf College.
The Golf College is an educational establishment based at Lindfield Golf Club which offers both a BTEC education and a Degree course (based at East Sussex National Golf Club).
As well as their education students on both courses receive top quality golf coaching and weekly competition play. The purpose is to prepare students for a future in the Golf industry.
The Golf College Open is the first competition open to both groups of students and, with a field of 82 competitors, is the largest competition that the Golf College has held.
The field was exceptionally strong with 75 of the competitors off single figure handicaps, 57 of whom have handicaps of 5 or lower.
Day one of the competition saw Jamie Wood shoot 2 under par 66 to share the lead with Maddie Rolph, closely followed by Mason Essam and Lewis Hinton on 67 .
The second day saw Mason Essam come to the fore with a storming finish including a score of 3 on four out of the last five holes to shoot a second round of 67 to clinch the victory. Mason joined the Golf College 5 years ago playing off a 6 handicap and has now become one of the best young players in the South of England playing off a +3 handicap.
Jamie Wood, runner-up in this year’s Kent Amateur Championship, shot 66, 69 to take 3rd place closely followed by Tom Naylor with rounds of 68 and 70 shooting one of his best rounds. Jon Exon-Taylor shot 66, the best round of the day, to share 4th place with Adalberto Montini and Peter Davies.
Whilst the leaderboard was dominated this year by university degree students the competition was deemed a great success and will become a permanent fixture on the Golf College calendar.
Mason Essam receives the Trophy from Paul Lyons, MD of the Golf College.
