Crookall-Nixon retains title after five-way playoff
3rd July 2009Seb Crookall-Nixon retained the English Boys Under 16 Stroke Play Championship for the McGregor Trophy after a dramatic five-way playoff at Radcliffe-on-Trent.
The quintet, Adria Arnaus from Spain, Crookall-Nixon from Cumbria, Bertrand Mommaerts from Belgium, Nick Newbold from Kedleston Park and Welshman Rhys Pugh tied on 279, one under par, after a dramatic afternoon in the sunshine when, at one stage, the title looked to be safely in Arnaus’ grasp.
Arnaus and Newbold bogeyed the first playoff hole and were eliminated and Mommaerts followed at the second extra hole, the 18th, with another five. The conclusion came on the second visit to the first where a par four was sufficient for Crookall-Nixon to edge past Pugh, who took five.
“This is a dream come true,” said the lad from Cumbria. “Even when I was seven behind I still felt I could win. I had a game plan and I stuck to it when people were hitting drivers and I was hitting irons off the tee. Having won before I knew I could do it again and to be only the second player to retain the title is like making history.”
Apart from Arnaus, all had chances to win in regulation but missed birdie putts on the 18th green. Arnaus, who almost went out of bounds with his approach to 18, had to get up-and-down to make the playoff.
Arnaus, 15 from Barcelona, will look back on the day and wonder how the title managed to escape from his grasp. A morning 66 put him four shots clear and he was still in control at the turn. But he started the back nine bogey-double bogey-bogey to lost that lead and with others making headway it was all to play for.
Pugh returned 67 to set the target which was systematically matched by the other four. Then came that sensational conclusion that was befitting of the Radcliffe-on-Trent club in its centenary year.