Barry Back To Defend Title As Davidson Leads Welsh Challenge

Former professional tour player Barry Hume will return to defend the Welsh Open Stroke Play title he won at Royal St David’s in 2016.

The former Asian Tour player had a prolific amateur career before turning professional, but regained his amateur status in 2013.

He represented Scotland in Home international matches in 2015 and 2016 and will again be one of the favourites for this year’s Welsh Open Stroke Play to be held at the Wales National Course on the Vale Resort.

The challenging 7400 yards National Course opened in 2003 and has already hosted European Challenge Tour and Europro events.

Golf Union of Wales championships manager, David Wilson, said, “We are delighted to bring this Championship to the Vale Resort.

“It is a venue and course built to host prestigious events and with the length and nature of the golf course it represents a modern challenge to a field at the highest levels of amateur golf.”

Welsh eyes will be following Jack Davidson, winner of the Spanish International Amateur Championship and leading individual player at the European Nations Cup already this year.

Jack is joined by two other members of Wales’ European Nations Cup Winning team in Owen Edwards and Joshua Davies.

The Vale Resort itself is well represented at the event through Welsh International Tim Harry, current Welsh Boys champion Oliver Brown and former Welsh Boys International Delon Hau.

England and Ireland are strongly represented in the Championship as usual. Hume is joined by other members of the Scottish National squad including Matthew Clark, Calum Fyfe and Euan McIntosh.

Golf Manager at the Vale Resort,Clive Coombs, said, “We are delighted to host the Welsh Open Stroke Play Championship at the Vale Resort.

“Whilst less than 15-years-old, the Wales National Course has already shown that it is ideally suited to championship golf and we look forward to welcoming the players to the club.”

The entire field of 144 players will play 36 holes over the first two days (19th/20th May) before being cut to the top 45 and ties for the last two rounds to take place on Sunday 21st May, with the leaders expected to start their final round at around 2.30pm.

Visitors are welcome to watch some of the best amateur players in Britain compete for the Welsh Open Stroke Play title.