Fryer Cup ‑ Road to Las Colinas

After the morning rain had cleared, the players set out for a 9am shotgun start. The Fryer Cup is an individual medal tournament played from the white tees. It is one of the more challenging formats in the Golf At Goodwood calendar and to be in with a chance of qualifying for the Copa Las Colinas, players submitted teams of three prior to the event knowing that their nett scores would be combined and the top two teams would compete in a shoot-out.

The lowest gross score of the day was a brilliant 74 (two over par) which was shot by both Paul Millard (5) and Leonardo Ruggieri (1). On this blustery day only 7 twos were recorded; these came on the 1st hole for Paul Hazell, the 8th hole for Ian Hamlett and Dave Porter, the 12th for Russell Braham, Chris Dyson and Simon Hutchin and finally on the 17th for Paul Millard.

Victory in the Fryer Cup belonged to Paul Millard with a nett score of 69, which he shared with Sam Herlihy (24), beating him on countback. In third place was Will Court (7) with a nett 71.

The clear leaders in the team competition were trio Nick Tull, Sam Herlihy and Steen Claxton with a combined nett score of 215. Following them and therefore securing their place in the shoot-out were Andy Smith, Paul Millard and Dave Porter. The shoot-out took place on the 18^th and with its new stroke index of 8, only two players would receive a stroke on this hole; Claxton and Herlihy.

Herlihy and Claxton had both got themselves into good positions on the green after 3 shots (nett 2) along with Tull who was closer, but for six. With five of the six balls scattered across the left half of the green, where the pin stood, it was Porter's turn to give the crowd something to cheer for. From a nasty lie in the rough he played a high chip and almost holed it for a birdie, taking a gentle deflection off the pin and coming to rest no more than two foot from the hole. Smith, Millard and Porter finished the hole with a combined nett score of 13, which Tull, Herlihy and Claxton were unable to beat.

Congratulations to Paul Millard who won the Fryer Cup and his teammates Dave Porter and Andy Smith, who will all represent Golf At Goodwood at the 2017 Copa Las Colinas in September.

Sean Corte-Real, Director of Golf and Operations at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club, said; “We'd like to thank Goodwood and all of their members who took part in a fantastic Copa Las Colinas qualifying event at the weekend. The top class Goodwood layout offers the perfect setting and adds great value to the overall Copa Las Colinas tournament

“A massive congratulations goes to the three players who've made it through to Copa Las Colinas in September. We look forward to welcoming them in a few months' time, along with a host of other qualifiers from across Europe.”