ABU DHABI: Chris Lloyd is just 17 but has the build of a golfer much older. And he saw his burgeoning talent reach maturity as he overhauled a four-shot overnight deficit to lift the Abu Dhabi Junior Golf Championship.
The tournament, formerly the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship is the pinnacle of the sport for 40,000 youngsters from the UK and Ireland who set out at the start of the year to battle through local and regional qualifying to win a place in the 20-strong field for the final at the Abu Dhabi National course.
But it was Lloyd, courtesy of a final round four-under par 68 which included three consecutive birdies around the turn, who emerged as the champion after beating overnight leader Tom Lewis by a single stroke.
He kicked off with a birdie at the par-five eighth and as Lewis suddenly started to wobble, reeled off two more to take a one-shot lead. But it wasn't until another birdie at 16 which put him two strokes clear that Lloyd could feel he had one hand on the trophy and despite a bogey at the next hole finished 11 under for the tournament. "I like to chase the game as I'm quite an aggressive player, so today suited me fine," said Lloyd.
"Over the last nine I was playing some good shots and just playing steady and straight."
Alexandra Peters blew away her rivals in the girls championship with her five under par total, good enough to win by five shots from Jessica Wilcox.
Both Lloyd and Peters have been rewarded for their wins with coveted places alongside European Tour players in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Pro-Am event in January.
Play-off puts payne back on top
Tower Links head pro Simon Payne continued his great run of form by landing the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club Men's Open (supported by SAIF) title on the second extra hole against fellow pro Richard Sheridan (Al Badia). Both finished on one-under-par for the 36-hole event. Simon Dunn was third. The title added to Payne's victory in the UAE PGA's TNT Classic and a top-five individual finish in the PGAs of Europe event in Spain in the past month.
Watch Wie for free!
If the cream of the European PGA Tour battling it out at Jumeirah Golf Estates a fortnight ago whetted your appetite for watching the pros at work then get down to Emirates Golf Club next week for the Dubai Ladies Masters. American-Korean sensation Michelle Wie will be the star attraction in a field that includes defending champion Anje Monke. The tournament, the last of the 2009 Ladies European Tour runs from Wednesday, December 9 to Saturday, December 12, on the Majlis course and entry is FREE on all days. The annual challenge match on the par three course is on Monday (3pm start) and the pro-Am is on Tuesday. More info at www.dubailadiesmasters.com
