CAMERON CLINCHES INAUGURAL SENIOR TITLE

Cameron seems to be the name constantly in the news these days and Doug Cameron, a Scot from Hertfordshire, added to the influx when he won the inaugural Seniors County Champions Tournament at Woodhall Spa.

A closing round of 78 for 155 left him a stroke ahead of England senior international Roy Smethurst with Cumbria’s Peter Jack third on 158 and saw him as the first holder of the Richard Palmer Trophy.

“Winning this title means a lot,” said Cameron. “Any time you beat your peers is something to treasure. I’m delighted and I’m more delighted because the trophy has been donated by Richard Palmer and bears his name.

“What makes the victory even more rewarding is that I finished ahead of Roy Smethurst. He is a fine golfer and a delight to watch so if you finish in front of him you have done well.”

Cameron might have won even more convincingly. He was progressing well until he ran up a triple-bogey seven at the 17th, plugging his approach into sand and hitting the recovery into a bush. But he birdied the long 18th which was to prove vital.

“That birdie was badly needed,” added the 57-year-old from Moor Park. “It was a rare commodity today but this is a great golf course. There are so many good holes but you have to commit to every shot and I struggled to read the putts.”

Smethurst hopes all but disappeared with his opening round of 83. The 69 year old who was the top scorer for England over the same course in last week’s Senior Home Internationals, rarely puts two bad rounds together and in much kinder conditions the Crewe man came roaring back into contention.

His 73 was easily the best of the day but after missing birdie chances at every hole from the 14th, he needed to chip-in at the last to tie.

“I nearly did it but the ball just crept by,” he said. “My brain went yesterday. I was mentally tired, but I holed out better today and I came back in 35 which you couldn’t have done so in yesterday’s wind. I knew what the situation was out on the course and that I needed birdies. I had chances but couldn’t convert them.”

Kent’s Dave Jessup, who shared the overnight lead with Cameron, slipped to an 85 for 162 and joint seventh spot. “It was bad day at the office,” he admitted.

Results and more information about the Seniors County Champions Tournament can be found on the Championship section of the EGU website.