TOM Osborne has been crowned Brabazon Trophy champion after a scintillating battle in the sun with fellow England Golf teammate Eliot Baker.
A level-par final round was enough to seal the title at Moortown Golf Club, despite a 3-under final round from Tiverton’s Baker.
Osborne was a wire-to-wire winner, having finished on a total of -16, thanks to his Brabazon Trophy record of -9 on day one, which was also a Moortown course record.
Another ding-dong battle between the pair on the last day saw Baker close the gap from five shots to just two in the space of three holes, and late birdies from Baker saw the duo separated by just a single shot going into the final two holes.
But Baker’s tee shot went left on the final hole and he could only make bogey, leaving Osborne a comfortable par to seal the win – becoming the fourth straight Englishman from Yorkshire to win the trophy.
Osborne said: “It feels amazing. Right from the start of the week I felt something special was going to happen. When Eliot was just a couple of shots back, I knew it wasn't mine at all, and for him to play how he did today was amazing and that pushed me on, and I finally got it over the line in a stroke play competition, so I'm really pleased."
Asked about his Brabazon Trophy record score of -9 on day one, he revealed: "It's so special - the Brabazon has been going for around 80 years and to get the record score is a massive honour and I'm so proud of all the work I've put in with all my coaches to get that."
On celebrations, he added: "We're heading back to my home club Lindrick to celebrate and having a few drinks - and the trophy will be staying with me in my bedroom!"
Hungary’s Bence Bertenyi finished in 3rd place on -9, with Oliver Lewis-Perkins (Mid Kent) 4th on -8. 2024 English Amateur champion Harley Smith had a late charge with four straight birdies on the back-nine of the final day to finish 5th on countback on -7, ahead of Jack Diment (Belton Park), Jake Sowden (The Oaks) and the Netherlands’ Melvin Muller.
There was also a special moment for Oliver Cage on his home course on the final day, as he enjoyed a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th to lift him to tied-12th overall.
Elsewhere, England’s Harry Cox (Welwyn Garden City) had a whirlwind morning, shooting five birdies in a blistering 5-under front nine, which was how he finished for the day. His overall score of 280 (-4) earned him the George Henriques Salver for being the leading under-20 player.
The Scrutton Jug – the trophy given to the combined best score of the Berkshire Trophy and the Brabazon Trophy – went to Cole Self, after his overall 280 (-4).
He said: “It feels amazing to join such a list of winners (like Tyrrell Hatton and Sandy Lyle). It’s hard to believe but I’ve played well this year. I’ve been hitting 15/16 greens a round but my putter's been a bit cold – you have to hit it well around here else you can struggle and rack up a score. I’ve got plenty of events coming up and I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing.”
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