Holy Smoke - Priest On a Streak!

Yorkshire’s Stefan Priest won the 2024 Senior Men’s County Champion of Champions by two shots after being the only player to shoot under par at Woodhall Spa’s Hotchkin course.

Some 32 players battled for the title over the course of 36 holes across a weekend, with Priest managing two-under on Saturday to keep him in contention.

In his second round, the Yorkshireman rolled in three birdies in a -3 front nine to race into a commanding lead, and although he dropped shots after the turn, the 60-year-old held on to win the tournament by two shots ahead of nearest competitors, Barry Giblin (Lancashire) and Richard Latham (Lincolnshire) - the latter playing at his home course.

Giblin had a poor start to his second round as he made a costly triple-bogey on the par-4 2nd, but he battled back with three birdies and a bogey-free rest of the round, to finish on +1 overall.

Elsewhere, Dennis Mathers (Northamptonshire) led the way after day one thanks to six birdies in a round of -3 (70), which was the best round across the two days in the tournament, but a +5 on day two saw him slip to finish in 4th.

Priest spoke about his win reigniting his love for the game, saying: “I’m 60 now and at the start of the season I was struggling a little bit. Winning a Yorkshire Championship and then winning this has really got me buzzing again.

“I love Woodhall Spa, I have been coming here since I was a kid and I love the Hotchkin (course). I got off to a nice start, played some solid golf, for the first day, and was very pleased with that.

“The Hotchkin is such a great course. The work they have done on it in recent years has only enhanced it. The feeling of being on the Hotchkin makes you want to play well, and I really enjoyed it.

“From finding the game quite easy (through the front nine on day two), it all suddenly became difficult. Into the back nine I was making mistakes and Richard (Latham) had made three birdies on the bounce so from having a comfortable lead against him, I knew we were close, so did feel a bit of pressure.

“I had to go back to one or two trusted swing thoughts and deep breaths and committed myself to some good shots.

“I’m proud of myself that I didn’t compound the errors. I played the last three holes well and I was very pleased with that. Hopefully I can press on next season before I get too old, and have another good year!”

 AND THERE’S MORE… WE SPEAK TO THE TRIPLE CHAMP

By Danny Lockwood

“Relax, enjoy it and don’t overthink too much!” Apparently that’s the secret to doing a pretty remarkable treble of landing the Yorkshire Seniors Stroke Play, Match Play and the England County Champion of Champions.

Hallowes man Stefan Priest turned 60 back in February. He admits his back sometimes reminds him of the miles on the clock if he golfs too much, but even so it’s been a very special year for the +2 handicapper, starting with the Yorkshire Stroke Play at Scarcroft.

On that occasion he only topped the leaderboard for the first time when he sank a monster eagle putt on the last green to edge clubhouse leader Steven Greenwood on countback.

And the secret to his successful 2024?

“I don’t know, honestly. If I knew the answer to that it would make the game a lot easier – I think every golfer would say that.

“A nice putt on the last at the stroke play, a chip in when I was in real trouble on the 12th. Just little things like that can make all the difference. I think it gives you momentum, puts a smile on your face rather than being beaten up by the game.

“In the [Yorkshire] Match Play I was ahead in my first game, but in the next two I found myself a little bit behind. I was just trying to stay in it. Take a few deep breaths and just rely on some of the things you do – just remember it’s your hobby and not your job!”

And the difference this year?

“I think I have just been a bit better at most parts of my game than I have in the past. Just a bit straighter off the tee, a little bit more consistent. I’ve tried to be a bit more thoughtful about practice as opposed to just hitting a lot of balls.

“I think it’s important to relax, not over-analyse things and get lost in yourself.”

So that’s the secret to success for we ‘mature’ golfers! Chillax folks – it’s an easy game. Or at least it has been this year for the very amiable Stefan Priest.

YORKSHIRE MATCH PLAY

Fresh from winning the County Champion of Champions title at Woodhall Spa, Hallowes man Stefan Priest completed a unique treble, adding the Yorkshire Match Play crown to his Stroke Play title won at Scarcroft.

With the top eight finishers joining the top 16 county men at Ilkley, number one seed Priest opened up with a 4&2 win over Moortown’s Peter Owens.

Next up was county seniors stalwart Richard Norton, the Beverley & ER man having progressed via a 4&3 win over Rudding Park’s Phil Kitching. Norton had been in contention at Scarcroft until the wheels came off at the close of his round, playing in the same group as Priest.

In a tense  affair the pair had to go to extra holes before Priest prevailed on the 19th.

In the other half of the draw Pontefract’s Andrew Wiltshire saw off his county captain, no.3 seed Andy King, 1-up,  and then got a 2-up win over Richmond’s Gary Catt.

Wiltshire took the eventual champion to the 18th before Priest sealed a 2-up win.