England’s Gregory takes runner-up spot in Spanish amateur

England’s Scott Gregory finished runner-up in the Spanish men’s amateur championship, bowing out to British amateur champion and world number seven, Romain Langasque of France.

Gregory, from the England Golf A squad and ranked 110 in the world, lost the 36-hole final at the Real Club de Golf Seville by 9/8. But afterwards he was upbeat about the overall experience.

“I’m disappointed not to have got the win but Romain is an incredible player!” said Gregory. “This is the first time I’ve got to the final of an international field event which is a huge positive for me. My goal going in to the week was to make the match play stages so there’s nothing but positives to take. I putted very well all week and today was just one of those days when nothing really got going.”

The 21-year-old from Corhampton in Hampshire led the English challenge from the start of the championship, qualifying in 11th place for the matchplay stages where he was joined by Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park), James Allan (Chelmsford), James Walker (The Oaks), Marco Penge (Golf at Goodwood), Jamie Li (Bath) and Dan Brown (Bedale).

Gregory beat Penge in an all-England tie and was joined in the second round by Walker and by Moore, who also defeated a compatriot, in this case Allan. Moore lost his second round match but Gregory and Walker moved steadily on, reaching the semi-finals in opposite sides of the draw and generating hopes of an all-England final.

Walker met Langasque in his semi-final and despite a superb effort was eventually beaten on the 19th hole. The 21-year-old, who was eighth on the England Golf order of merit in 2015, is the son of England men’s coach, Graham Walker.

Gregory, however, made it safely through to the final with a 4/3 win over Ireland’s John Ross Galbraith. But his challenge ended when he met Langasque and, for the second time, Gregory was runner-up in a national championship, following his great run to the final of the 2014 English amateur.

The picture shows Scott Gregory (left) with Romain Langasque. Image courtesy Adolfo Juan Luna.