Hugh Adams wins Reid Trophy

 

England’s Hugh Adams held his nerve to win the Reid Trophy on the fourth hole of a sudden death play-off at Reading Golf Club.

The 13-year-old from Hagley Golf Club in Worcestershire defeated Spain’s Angel Ayora with a par and said: “It just felt great. I was just excited to lift up the trophy.

“I didn’t come here expecting to win, I’m only 13 and I’ve still got another year so I was just trying to play well.”

However, when he got within four shots of the lead after two rounds he was determined to go for it – and secured his place in the play-off with his three-under 67. It gave him a level par total and a tie with Ayora who closed with 66.

“I tried to get off to a quick start,” he said. “I didn’t really know anything until about the 14th or 15th, but when I birdied the 16th I knew I had a chance.

“Everything just started to go my way, I had a couple of nice bounces, took advantage of my luck and holed some nice putts.”

Adams actually had a 10-footer on the 18th to win outright, but it slid past the hole and he was into the play-off.

He’d been involved in sudden death once before and although he lost that time – on the eighth hole – the experience helped him.

“I was quite relaxed, quite calm, but definitely determined,” he said.

The first three play-off holes were halved in par, but on the fourth Ayora’s drive went behind a tree and his next just slipped out of bounds.

Adams, who plays for his county, has been in good form this season, with high finishes at both the Midlands U16 championship and the Douglas Johns Trophy. “It’s been going well,” he said.

Four other boys were in the top ten: Stuart Reis (Welwyn Garden City), Manato Nakatini (Hendon), Harley Smith (The Rayleigh Club) and Luke Perkins (Frilford Heath).

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