Gill Wins Welsh Open Youth Title Despite Late Double Bogey

Bailey Gill enjoyed the best win of his career when he picked up the Welsh Open Youth title at Whitchurch in Cardiff.

The Yorkshire prospect won despite trouble on the tricky 18th, a double bogey in his last round compounding his issues on that hole over the weekend.

The top placed Welsh player was Oswestry’s Gareth Evans in tied third, Ben Chamberlain of Padeswood and Buckley finishing in tied 10th.

“It was nice to get the win after having trouble on the last, but a birdie on the 17th had meant I had a four shot cushion,” said 19-year-old Gill, the Lindrick player who had to pull out of the Welsh Open Stroke Play because of illness.

“I played really well for the first three rounds and then the first nine holes of the last round before just holding on at the end.

“The course was really nice, you were rewarded for good play, the greens were very true and my putting was very good from five feet and in where I hardly missed.

“It was a change not to play a links course, it was a course where you get what you deserve and you could get a good score if you played well.

“This was really nice as it was the first time I have won a national title, all my wins in the past have been around Sheffield and Yorkshire, so I was quite nervous at the end but winning was a really good feeling.

“I want to carry on competing in national events, it is a busy couple of months with the English Amateur and the Brabazon Trophy so winning this will definitely help with my confidence.”

Gill had three rounds in the sixties to start off and at one point was eyeing Ian Woosnam’s Whitchurch course record of 62, falling short even before another double bogey up the last. A closing round of 73 was still enough to win.

Golf Union of Wales championships manager David Wilson. “Congratulations to Bailey who played really well throughout his four rounds and deserved to claim the title.

“Also congratulations to the Whitchurch club, the course was in fantastic condition and provided a really good test for the players.
“As Bailey said, the players were rewarded for good play and punished for errant play which is always the sign of good course.”