Yorkshire’s Joe Dean almost holed in one to seal a resounding 9/7 victory in the English amateur championship at The Alwoodley Golf Club, Leeds. His seven-iron shot to the 29th par three hole pitched just past the hole, spun back, went into the cup and flipped out again, settling a couple of inches away. His opponent, Alfie Plant of Sundridge Park GC, Kent, hit his tee shot but, once the players reached the green, he conceded the hole and the match. “I won the first match of the week with an eagle and I nearly finished it off with an eagle!” said Dean.
It provided a fitting end to an impressive display by the 21-year-old from Lindrick, who was four up after the morning round in the 36-hole final. He played the 29 holes of the match in four-under par, despite steady rain in the afternoon – and a torrential downpour as the match drew to its close. The players were able to complete the 28th hole, which Dean won after Plant’s tee shot went out of bounds, but course manager Philip Taylor had to squeegee the 29th green before they could play to it.
His win on Yorkshire Day marks a resounding return to form for Dean, a member of the England Golf men’s squad. “I’ve struggled through the start of the year and felt frustrated, so this means everything to me,” he said.