Hampshire Boys captain Nick Matthews is dreaming of landing the English Schools title when he travels to Leicestershire’s Belton Park GC over the weekend.
The Newport Golf Club member just missed out on becoming crowned South West Schools Champion earlier this month – losing to Hampshire U18s team-mate Charlie Forster on countback.
Both players carded rounds of 71 at The Players Club, at Bristol, which is regularly used by the EuroPro Tour.
Only a better back 9 score by Forster over the 7,100 yard West Country course, denied Matthews more glory as both players tied on 1-under par, helping Hampshire to victory in the team contest for the first time.
Both qualified for the national championships being played on Monday – with the top 7 players at Belton Park earning an English Schoolboys cap against Wales during the summer holidays.
Unfortunately, September’s annual match against the Scots has been postponed, but Matthews is determined to make up for the disappointment at the regional qualifier.
Nick, who has been a regular member of the Hampshire U18s team for four seasons, said:
“It was very disappointing to have a scratch competition like the South West Schools decided on countback.
Article continues below this advertisement “I was really hoping for a play-off against Charlie. I had a very solid round after a fast start, birdieing the first two holes.”
Matthews bounced back after a double bogey at the third, making 5 birdies in total, including 2 around the turn –finishing with his final 1 on the 18th. But it was the 2 bogeys on the back nine that ultimately handed the title to Forster, who shot two-under on the back nine compared to Nick’s level-par 36.
That is now in the past for the teenager with a stellar matchplay record when he pulls on the blue Hampshire shirt.
Nick said:
“Some big names have won the English Schools title, like Simon Dyson and Ken Ferrie, who went on to win on the European Tour.
“Paul Broadhurst played in the Ryder Cup while Scott Drummond won the 2006 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the biggest event on the European Tour.
“So to have a chance to get my name on the same trophy is a great opportunity.
“I would love to play for England Schools – matchplay is my speciality, I have only lost a few times in all the matches I have played for Hampshire.”
Matthews relishes the chances to compete in national championships. He added:
“You get to see the standard that you have to be at. The standard is exceptionally good.
“I have played at the Reid (English U14s), the McGregor (U15s), and finished third in the U16 North of England Championships.”
Matthew also qualified for the British Par 3 Championships, at Nailcote Hall, in 2019, when he was paired with Ryder Cup captain and Masters winner Ian Woosnam.
Nick said
“The experience at the British Par 3 was brilliant, to play with Ian Woosnam – the way he strikes the ball is different class.
“It was great to see how focussed and in the moment he is when playing.”
After next week’s English Schools, the focus switches straight back to the Hampshire team. The U18s are bidding for a place at the English Boys Final when the South East Qualifier is held in Kent, on Wednesday (30th June).
Nick’s aim is to also to lead Hampshire to another South East League Final, after playing on the winning team in 2018.
Matthews saw his team beat Kent and Sussex in Sunday’s triangular South East League match at South Winchester GC.
He suffered 2 rare defeats as Hampshire beat Sussex 41/2-31/2, claiming the points against Surrey with a 5-3 victory.
Those wins followed on from last month’s victory in the Donnelly Shield, beating Sussex at Test Valley GC by 24 shots in the 10-a-side contest, with Wiltshire a further six shots back.
Report by Andrew Griffin
