A GOLF team from Basingstoke finished runners-up in what is believed to be the ‘largest amateur golf tournament’ in the world.
Weybrook Park team finished second in the Daily Mail Foursomes tournament after coming through 2,000 golf clubs that entered into the first-round draw.
The Daily Mail Foursomes is now regarded as the greatest amateur golfing event in the world with more than 190,000 players competing in their club qualifying rounds to enter a team into the knockout stages.
This year more than 2,000 golf clubs throughout England, Scotland and Wales entered teams into the first-round draw.
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In foursomes two players play one ball and hit alternative shots, it is widely regarded as the most challenging form of the game.
Weybrook Park men represented by Sandy Burrell and Barry O’Sullivan played the first match-play round away to Test Valley Golf Club in February and then throughout the summer proceeded to win a further six matches to qualify for the grand finals held at St Pierre Golf Resort in Chepstow, Wales over October 3 and 4.
Playing on the challenging St Pierre Old Course, the Weybrook men went through against Swanston from Edinburgh in the last 16 and won two further matches against Houghton GC from Manchester in the quarter-final and Cape Cornwall in the semi-final to book a place in the final.
With Sandy playing off a handicap of 13 and Barry 15 the Weybrook team had to give five shots to the team from Shortlands Golf Club in Kent with former professional Tony Coulstock playing +1 and his partner Tom Costello playing off 38.
Despite playing their best golf of the week, the Weybrook pair were no match for the team from Shortlands who secured a comfortable victory.
SEE ALSO: Weybrook Park in final of golf club of the year awards
Sandy Burrell said: “Entering the tournament we had no idea how large it was but as the rounds went by speaking to other teams we realised that reaching the last 16 finals event was an achievement in itself.
“We were delighted to reach the Daily Mail trophy final, but disappointed that we were not able to compete with the winners.”
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