Cort takes Midland Open in play-off

Rothley Park’s Matthew Cort clinched the Midlands Open in dramatic fashion on the third extra play-off hole.

Cort finished six-under for the Mark Group supported tournament at Birstall Golf Club to tie with former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst, Timothy Newham (Mapperley Park) and Peter Baker (South Staffs).

Newham made a par on the first play-off hole but it was not good enough as the other three all scored birdies. Broadhurst was next to exit as his second tee shot was wayward and he could only salvage a bogey from an awkward lie.

That left Cort and Baker to fight it out and another birdie was enough to clinch the title. It completed a great week for the Leicestershire golfer as he added the Midlands Open title to the Midlands Masters he won at Kedleston Park last week.

Cort said: “I’m thrilled, I played well yesterday and then you have to wait overnight so it is important to just stay in the moment. I’m on roll after last week and I’ve been playing well in the pro-ams.

“Today I didn’t play the front nine that great but a birdie on nine got me back in the tournament. I had a great tee shot on 17 and holed the putt and had a chance to close it out on 18 but couldn’t quite manage it.

“For that last chip I just opened the face on my lob wedge and gave it some air and it came out nice. I gave myself a three-footer straight up the hill and in that situation you don’t want any tricky ones so it was nice to get a straight putt.

“Three years ago I was in the last group and I had one hand on the trophy on the 18th and I made a mess of the last and that was on my mind. But I know the course quite well because I was a member here as a junior. The rain earlier in the week had softened the course up and you could go for the pins.”