Willingdon pair land national title

This national event attracted 3,400 clubs across the men's and women's sections and Wootten and Killik won the men's final played at Chepstow's St Pierre Golf Club.

The 40-year-old Wootten (handicap two) and the 21-year-old Killik (three) won seven rounds played in Kent, Sussex and part of Surrey to make the final 16 at St Pierre.

In the first round at St Pierre they met the favourites from Downfield Golf Club, Dundee, Graham Bell (+2 handicap) and Richard Scott (6).

The Willingdon pair lost three of the first four holes but managed to get back to all square after nine with the help of some mistakes by the Scottish pair and a brilliant pitch by Anthony to five feet, Mark holing the putt, on the ninth.

The match remained all square until the 16th, where the Willingdon pair reduced the 453-yard hole to drive, nine iron and 20ft putt to go one ahead. A four on the 425-yard 17th, where the green is surrounded by water on three sides, was good enough for a 2 and 1 win.

The confidence carried into the quarter-final in which Wootten and Killik beat two young five handicap players, Stuart Kedge and Dan Parkes, from Stover Golf Club, Devon. The pair were level par when they won 6 and 4.

In the semi-final the Willingdon pair played Eamon Monaghan (9) and Frank McPartland (18), from Portadown Golf Club, Northern Ireland, giving them eight shots in the match.

Wootten and Killik were three up with four to play and then lost both the 15th and 16th holes. On the dangerous 17th Portadown left their second shot 50 yards short while Anthony's drive left Mark with 190 yards over trees to the front of the green. A perfect four-iron into the breeze ensured that Willingdon were in the final.

That was against David Mann (2) and Martin Millett (3) from Bristol and Clifton Golf Club. Most of the support in the final was for them although four of Willingdon's opponents and their supporters were there to watch the match.

At the end of a slightly scrappy nine holes, Willingdon were two up. On the 16th hole Anthony holed a difficult downhill putt after Mark's delicate chip to remain two up. Once again the 17th was kind to Willingdon with their opponents putting their second shot in the lake followed by Mark's seven-iron shot to the front of the green ensuring a win by 3 and 1.

All in all it was the Willingdon pair's excellent short game and course management (ably assisted by Mark's caddy, the Willingdon club captain Michael Sibbering) which won them the competition.