• Amateur Championship

Porteous wins prestigious amateur title

ESPN staff
June 22, 2013
Garrick Porteous is the first Englishman to win the prestigious Amateur Championship since 2003 © Getty Images
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Garrick Porteous was crowned the Amateur Champion at Royal Cinque Ports on Saturday after a 6&5 win over Finland's Toni Hakula in the 36-hole final.

The 23-year-old became the first English winner of the tournament since Gary Wolstenholme in 2003 and staked a very strong claim for a place in the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team this September by winning one of the amateur game's most prestigious championships.

After losing the first hole of the morning round, Porteous surged into a four-hole lead against his 21-year-old opponent on the front nine and was never again behind as both players battled through winds gusting up to 40mph.

By winning the Amateur, the Bamburgh Castle player has secured a place in the Open Championship at Muirfield next month as well as a place in next year's US Open at Pinehurst and a traditional invitation to the Masters in April.

A delighted Porteous said: "It's quite a surreal feeling right now. I know there are a lot of famous names on that trophy.

"To be alongside them is pretty humbling. I felt confident coming into the week but I never got ahead of myself. I just played one shot at a time and it worked.

"I think it will hit me next week when I realise I will be playing in the Open. It is just over an hour away from my house so there will be a lot of local fans coming out to watch. I played Muirfield four years ago in the Amateur and it will feel pretty special to tee it up there in the Open."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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