Will Hopkins wins the Lytham Trophy in dramatic fashion
Will Hopkins (Royal Lytham Golf Club)
Will Hopkins of England survived a three-hole aggregate playoff to win the 2024 Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lytham St. Annes, England. After four rounds of play and 72 holes, Hopkins,
Tomi Bowen, and
James Ashfield were tied at the top of the leaderboard at 1-under and needed three extra holes to decide a winner.
In the three-hole playoff, Hopkins finished 1-under, Bowen finished even par, and Ashfield finished 1-over, giving Hopkins the win.
Hopkins shot rounds of 70-70-73-66 to get to 1-under and force the playoff. Ashfield shot rounds of 67-71-72-69, and Bowen shot rounds of 72-69-68-70.
The 2023 Walker Cupper Ashfield was looking to continue his winning ways after winning the European Nations Cup.
Matt Roberts finished even par and in solo fourth place. 36-hole leader Jamie Van Wyk shot a final-round 4-over 75 to fall to T5. Daniel Bennett and Lev Grinberg also finished T5 at 1-over to round out the top five.
It has been a solid start to the year for Hopkins, as he finished T3 in the European Nations Cup and T4 at the Avondale Amateur. He is currently ranked No. 91 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings.
All players played 18 holes on Friday and Saturday, and then the field was cut to the top 40 and ties, and the remaining players played 36 holes on Sunday.
HISTORY
In the early 1960s, some of the senior Members of the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club felt that there was a gap in the amateur golfing calendar and the need for a major 72-hole scratch competition. The English Golf Union helped launch the event and select entrants. The Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and County Unions and various eminent players were approached for their support. All gave it willingly, and so was born the Lytham Trophy.
It is held each year over the Bank Holiday Weekend at the beginning of May. It is now played solely at Royal Lytham, with one round on Friday and Saturday and the final two rounds for those who have made the cut on Sunday.
Every winner takes away a replica of the handsome "Sputnick" trophy donated by Members' subscriptions. All have been the highest quality international golfers, and many have gone on to be successful Professionals.
The entry is now of the highest caliber from all parts of the UK and Europe and, in recent years, from all over Europe.
ABOUT THE
Lytham Trophy
In the early 1960s some of the senior
Members
of the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club felt
that there was a gap in the amateur golfing
calendar and the need for a major 72 hole
scratch competition. Help was given by the
English Golf Union to launch the event and to
select entrants. The Scottish, Irish, Welsh and
County Unions and various eminent players
were approached for their support. All gave it
willingly and so was born the Lytham Trophy.
It is held each year over the Bank Holiday
Weekend at the beginning of May. It is now
played solely at Royal Lytham with one round
being played on the Friday and Saturday and
the final two rounds, for those that have made
the cut, on the Sunday.
Every winner takes away a replica for the
handsome "Sputnick" trophy which was
donated by Members subscriptions. All have
been international golfers of the highest
quality
and many have gone on to be successful
Professionals.
The entry is now of the highest calibre from
all
parts of the UK and Eire and in recent years
from all over Europe.
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