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Rookie is the tops

18/12/2002

A ROOKIE golfer from Middleton has been crowned Europe's number one amateur after scooping first place in this season's finale.

Alan Clark, who took up the sport just 12 months ago, and plays off a 20 handicap, locked horns with qualifiers from across the continent in the prestigious Amateur Order of Merit European Masters, at Quinta do Lago, in Portugal.

The 41-year-old financial advisor, of Abbotsford Drive, Birch, competed in the Division Four 21 to 36 handicap category, and qualified after carding an impressive 19 under par for four rounds. He held his nerve to finish three-over par after the final 36 holes.

He said: "I was surprised to win more than anything. I really didn't think I had played well enough to win, but obviously that wasn't the case.

"I had a couple of flukey chip-ins which paid off. It was a great feeling."

Despite his success, Alan had conceded defeat following a mix-up with his partner's scorecard.

He added: "The German I was paired with was under the impression he was a shot ahead, so I just kept at it, thinking I was behind.

"Luckily for me, the person doing his scorecard had added up wrong, and it turned out I was in front."

Alan, a member of Castle Hawk Golf Course in Rochdale, was delighted to pick up the trophy and said it was an honour to play with his European counterparts on one of Portugal's premier courses.

"They really treated us superbly," he said. "We were given the professional treatment all the way through. It was amazing."

Craig Dyce, PGA European Tour Courses general manager said: "The tournament was played with great spirit and camaraderie, and Alan played some fantastic golf.

"We are committed to helping this wonderful European competition to grow in future years."