Hunt & Burgess Win Match Play Championships

March 9, 2014

The final rounds of the Bermuda Amateur Match Play Championships were completed at The Mid Ocean Club yesterday  [Mar 8] under extremely challenging conditions.

Following the heavy rain and thunderstorms that lashed the island around 5.00am, most of the rain had cleared out by the time the first matches commenced at 7:20am.

First off were the Ladies Championship Flight with Ebonie Burgess and Linda Down playing 36 holes to determine the winner, Ms. Down having reached the final by eliminating the defending 2013 champion Ann Symonds.

Fraser Hunt with the Men’s Championship Trophy:

Fraser Hunt with Trophy

The conditions were reasonable with 18-20 knot winds out of the WSW. Ms. Burgess took an early lead and was never seriously threatened by her opponent in the first 18 holes and finished 7 up.

The Men’s Championship Flight teed off at 7:28am with Ben Hodge against Fraser Hunt. Mr. Hodge was in the final having knocked out the defending champion, Jarryd Dillas in the semi final.

Mr. Hunt got off to a good start playing some very solid golf while his opponent was a little slow off the mark and found himself 5 down after 6 holes. However, he made a comeback and managed to reduce the deficit to 4 down after 18 holes.

As the other flights teed off at 11:20am the conditions, as forecast were starting to deteriorate. The winds were now 27 knots gusting to 35 and forecast to increase further as the afternoon progressed

As the Championship flight finalists teed off for their second 18, the winds were 34 gusting to 45 knots which made it very challenging on the exposed holes.

Ebonie Burgess receiving her Trophy from BGA President Andrew Woodworth:

Ebonie with trophy

Starting the Ladies Championship flight 7 down, Linda Down handled the tougher conditions well and on the conclusion of the match on #11 she had only lost one further hole. Ebonie Burgess therefore took the ladies title of 2014 Bermuda Amateur Match Play Championships with an 8 & 7 victory over Ms. Down.

In the Men’s Championship Flight the second 18 started with Fraser Hunt 4 up. Not to be deterred, Ben Hodge fought back all the way and walking off the 34th hole he was only 1 down with two to play. As the players stood on the 203 yard par 3, 17th with drivers in hand, the wind was straight in their face around 40 knots.

Mr. Hodge hit a beautiful shot over the pin and came to rest just over the back of the green while Fraser was on the front of the green with a lengthy putt to a back hole location. Fraser exercised very good judgement and hit an excellent putt into the wind and with a severely sloping right to left break.

Max Atherden receiving the Senior Championship award:

Max Atherden with Trophy

The putt took a favourable line and looked like it was going to be very close to the hole but came up about 10-15 feet short. Mr. Hodge hit a very nice flop shot on to the green but was a little surprised when the ball failed to release, even with a 40 knot wind behind it.

He was unable to make the putt, but Fraser who had kept his composure throughout the tournament made a very confident stroke and managed to hole the putt for par and thereby becoming the 2014 Bermuda Amateur Match Play Champion with a 2 & 1 win over Ben Hodge.

In the Senior Championship Flight, Craig Christensen was up against veteran Max Atherden in an 18 hole final. Once again they had to endure tough conditions and playing off the white tees wasn’t of any great benefit in these conditions.

Mr. Christensen had shown he is capable of shooting low having carded a gross score of 73 in the qualifying stroke play round on Wednesday. However, on the day that it mattered, he was unable to challenge the experience of Max Atherden who managed to close out his opponent 5 & 4.

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Comments (2)

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  1. stop the BS OBA says:

    Well done Ebbz!!!!!

    • truthbetold says:

      Well done Ebonie….well deserved. Keep up your great game. You are gifted in sports and you give your all. Proud of you…all the negative situations that you have endured, your lost…so many. You just keep on pressing on for the better. You are a great example to others….mentor for many.