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March 2020
Hague and Gill quick off the mark YORKSHIRE’S Bailey Gill and David Hague are celebrating their first professional wins after the pair claimed back to back titles on the MENA Tour. Lindrick’s Gill made two stunning birdies from almost impossible positions in his last two holes to claim his maiden victory in the paid ranks at the Ghala Open, in Oman. Just a week later Hague, from Malton & Norton, also finished strongly to win the $75,000 Royal Golf Club Bahrain Open in only his fourth start in a professional event. Former England amateur international Gill beat roommate and Journey to Jordan No 1 champion David Langley by one shot in the Omani capital Muscat. Gill was one behind leader Scot Craig Ross stood on the 16th tee, but finished with three birdies in a row, including spectacular chips on the 17th and 18th holes to within a couple of feet for a 16-under par finish.
The left hander, who along with Langley was a member of England’s Raymond Trophy winning team in Lahinch last September, was one shot behind the leader going into the final round of the previous event on the MENA Tour, the inaugural NewGiza Open, in Cairo, before finishing tied 12th. But Gill was not to be denied in Muscat as he compiled a bogey-free round that included five birdies in the last six holes to earn the first prize of $13,500 and a place in the European Tour’s Oman Open at nearby Al Mouj. His two closing birdies came thanks to a razor-sharp short game. On the penultimate hole the southpaw pushed his drive and was faced with a difficult chip shot over the bunker with very little space to stop the ball. On the 18th, he hit his tee shot left again and could barely see the flag from the desert area. But on both occasions, the 2016
Bailey Gill receives his trophy from Ziyad Al Zubair after winning the MENA Tour’s Ghala Open. Inset, reigning Yorkshire amateur champion David Hague, now a professional, on his way to winning in Bahrain Welsh Open Youths Strokeplay Champion hit his chips stone dead. “This is fantastic,” said Gill. “I have been waiting for some time now for this to happen. It did not happen in Cairo, but I am glad I could hang on and win here in Oman. “Those two were tough shots on the last two holes. I hit a horrible tee shot on the 18th hole and there was a lot of pressure when David holed his putt for a birdie on the last. “David really played great despite the poor start he had, especially on that back nine. “I was disappointed [the previous week], but I came here
knowing I was playing solid. “I have been playing good golf for some time now, just struggling to get everything together and I am glad I managed to do that.” Hague, 24, put all the days of self-doubting behind him as he compiled a brilliant back nine on another very windy day to shoot a one-under par 71 to tally nine-under par 207 for the three days. He started the final round as leader by one shot, but was trailing at the turn after making a double bogey on the seventh hole, which allowed Scotland’s Ryan Lumsden to surge ahead with an eagle on the par-5 ninth
hole. At that stage, Hague was seven under. But the Yorkshire champion made three birdies on the back nine as against a solitary bogey on the 12th hole, including a crucial birdie on the par-4 15th hole, which was playing very tough into the headwind. It was a two-shot swing against both Lumsden and former European Tour star Victor Riu, his closest rivals, who dropped shots on the same hole. Hague said: “This is amazing and very satisfying. I have been thinking of turning professional for more than a year now and always had my doubts about it.
“I felt I was on a good run when I played the MENA Tour Qualifying School, and thought it was a good time to make the decision. This win definitely validates it. “I drove consistently well this whole week and that really was the key to my winning. I struggled with my putter from inside six feet and made several three-putts – something I need to work on. “When I was trailing at the turn I knew I needed to be patient because the back nine of this golf course has been pretty good to me. And yes, that birdie on the 15th was a key moment for me.”
Matthew Kettlewell was elected Golf Development Committee Chairman for a further three-year term and Kevin Rayner was made Competitions’ Secretary. Stephen Livesey won’t have to worry about getting
a parking spot as he won the car park draw that secures him a reserved space for the year. Pictured are Dave Hall and Patricia Knox with retiring captains Moira Hinkles and Hubert Van-Huet, right.
Bedale name new captains at their AGM DAVE HILL and Patricia Knox were confirmed as Captain and Lady Captain at Bedale Golf Club’s Annual General Meeting. Janice Walker was elected Lady Vice-Captain and has also agreed to take on the role of Marketing Chair, succeeding Stewart Winship. Peter Carrotte was elected Vice Captain while David Brown was elected Chairman and Graham Lilley assumed the role of Treasurer.
Westwood is the master of Masters ceremonies again LEE WESTWOOD is looking forward to becoming the first player to host the Betfred British Masters on two occasions when the European Tour returns to the North-East in July. Lindrick member Westwood has enjoyed an impressive start to 2020, winning the season’s first Rolex Series event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA last month, to claim his 25th European Tour title. The former world No 1 is back inside the top 30 on the Official World Golf Ranking and currently leads the
European Tour’s Race to Dubai. He is also eyeing an 11th Ryder Cup appearance at Whistling Straits in September. Westwood previously hosted the British Masters at Close House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 2017, when nearly 70,000 fans came out to support the event and tickets are now on sale for the event, which will return there from July 30-August 2. Westwood said: “I think we got it pretty much right last time. We had a great turnout. Obviously it is earlier in the year this time so hopefully the weather will be better in July/August time.”
Becki on duty HOWLEY HALL’S Becki O’Grady has been selected to play for the Ladies National Police Scratch Team against the Army at Wyboston Lakes, Bedford, in July. In 2017 O’Grady became Howley Hall’s first female director in their 117-yearhistory and had served as lady captain a year earlier. She is a long hitter, twice reaching the UK final of the American Golf-backed long driving competition. In August 2017 a drive of 302 yards smashed her personal best and earned her third place at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire.
