Connor conquers Longhirst for maiden win

Sam Connor birdied the last to win the Dawson & Sanderson Travel Classic after a windy final round at Longhirst Hall Golf Club near Morpeth.

The Alsager Golf & Country Club player finished two shots ahead of second-place Christopher Evans, who bogeyed the 18^th, in the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event.

Connor carded a final-round 76 on the par-72 Dawson Course, which saw players contending with strong and gusty winds similar to those at the Irish Open last weekend. He was one under coming down the last and played a superb approach shot before making a short downhill putt for birdie.

It’s the 23-year-old’s first win on the EuroPro Tour and he takes home £10,000, a brand new Motocaddy S1 trolley, Bushnell Tour X range finder, Bolle sunglasses and £500 to spend at HotelPlanner.com

“I am in shock,” admitted Connor. “It feels amazing. You work towards this and I cannot put it in words how it feels.

“I was very happy with that birdie at the last. I hit a nice tee shot over the corner but only with a five iron – it was playing so strong downwind. We picked a yardage and a line for the second shot and committed to it. I hit it perfect and had six feet down the hill and rolled it in beautifully. The wind was unbelievably tough today.

“My main goal at the start of the season was to get onto the Challenge Tour and that doesn’t change. There is still a lot of work to do but if I keep doing what I am doing, I will achieve that.”

Connor had been neck-and-neck with Evans in the closing stages of the tournament after dropping four shots in the space of five holes from 13 to 17. However, his birdie at the last put pressure on Evans to equal his three for a play-off, but the Wishaw Golf Club player faltered with a five.

Jason Timmis (Wychwood Park Golf Club) finished third on one over after rounds of 69, 73 and 75. Craig Farrelly (TPS) came fourth on two over and three players shared fifth on three over, five behind winner Connor.

Highlights of the Dawson & Sanderson Travel Classic air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, June 16. The next HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event is at Cumberwell Park and begins on Wednesday, June 17, concluding Friday, June 19.