Croucher rises to the top

Christopher Croucher (Horsham Golf) is the new Nikon PGA South Assistants & Trainees Order of Merit champion for 2013.

His 5&4 victory over Adam Wootton (Oxford Golf Centre) in the Nikon supported Assistants & Trainees Match Play Finals at Lee-on-the-Solent and the winner’s cheque for £700 catapulted Croucher to the top, pipping Alexander MacGregor (Addington Court) to the Order of Merit title.

Croucher was elated after his Match Play victory, having beaten his Order of Merit rival MacGregor in the semi-final by an even bigger margin, 8&6, before taking on Wootton in the final.

“My golf’s been in a bit of a slump most of the year,” he said, “so the day before, I had a coaching session with my mentor Steven Orr at the Rustington Golf Centre, and after an hour he’d got my swing back into shape and I was raring to go.”

Suitably fired up, Croucher took full advantage of the fine weather in the morning to deliver a five-under-par performance over 12 holes to reach the final. Then a storm blew through at lunchtime, and as Croucher explained: “It was a completely different golf course with strong winds and rain. But with the tips from the day before still in my mind, I went out and managed to shoot level par for the 14 holes played.”

Croucher continued: “My golf was pretty hot all day. Winning the A&T Match Play and now the A&T Order of Merit is simply brilliant, and a massive boost. Steve told me at the beginning of the year to make it my aim, and reminded me of that when sorting out my swing, so it’s a great result for me, and I’m looking forward to playing in a lot more Pro-Ams and regional events next year.”