After two days of highly competitive hickory golf on the famous Panmure golf course, Sandy Lyle is the 2014 World Hickory Champion and local golfers cleaned up in the ladies golf categories.
After two days of highly competitive hickory golf on the famous Panmure golf course, top Scottish golfer Sandy Lyle added 2014 World Hickory Champion to his list of titles.
“I am very honoured to have won the World Hickory Open 2014,” said Sandy, who was the first British winner of The Masters. “I came into the tournament quite late when I decided that, as I was in this corner of Scotland for the Dunhill, staying on for the World Hickory Open would be a great opportunity to test my hickory skills, while also helping to advance hickory golf in Scotland.
“It’s been a very good experience which certainly got my ticker going, especially over the last two or three holes of the last round, which were very nerve wracking.”
At the presentation, WHO chairman Lionel Freedman cheekily announced that Sandy had won another Major!
Sandy has been playing hickory golf for almost three years. “I have a great love for hickory golf, which is about playing hickory on courses like Panmure,” continued Sandy. “I’ll hopefully be back to defend my title when the World Hickory Open is played at Carnoustie Championship next year.”
Golf professional Andrew Marshall, from Norfok tied for second with defending champion Paolo Quirici, a Swiss golf professional who specialises in hickory golf.
Handicap winner Jim Rohr from Pinehurst, North Carolina also won the Veterans’ category. “It feels pretty good to be going home with two trophies the first time I’ve played in the World Hickory Open,” said Jim, who only took up hickory golf a year ago. “I really enjoy the challenge of hickory golf and the great people I meet.”
Local golfers cleaned up in the ladies golf categories, with Claire Penman from Montrose winning the Ladies Scratch Competition, Sheila Brunton from Carnoustie winning the Ladies Handicap and Claire, Sheila and Carnoustie’s Pat Sawers clinching the Ladies Team Competition.
Over 100 competitors from all over the world participated in the World Hickory Open. In the Team Competition, a team from South African consisting of Paul Adams, Jason Mulroy and Tony Watson were named the winners, while the top place in the Amateur Scratch Competition went to Rymer Smith from The Buckinghamshire.
“The World Hickory Open is great news for Carnoustie Country, which covers 34 golf courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Championship,” said Councillor Mairi Evans, Angus Council Tourism Spokesperson. “It encourages golfers who are passionate about celebrating the traditional aspects of the game to visit our part of Scotland and discover for themselves just how good our golf courses, golf facilities and accommodation are.
“We look forward to welcoming the World Hickory Open back to Carnoustie Country in 2015, when the tournament will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in style at Carnoustie Championship.”
