Booth Breezes to Open Win

David Booth dealt skilfully with a blustery wind at Rotherham yesterday to win the Sheffield Open. Booth led home a strong field by three shots after a three under par back nine of 32 helped him set an early clubhouse target of 68 which remained unbeaten throughout the day.

Booth’s success derived from combining an acceptance that bogeys were inevitable on a difficult day with a resolve to attack. “I was aggressive off the tee all day,” he said. “Down the first I drove it to the edge and chipped and putted – and did the same at eleven,” a hole he also birdied. Perhaps the key moment, though, was at the par-five 10^th.

“I hit four iron second shot, and missed the green way right, almost on the road,” he explained. Then followed what he described as “an awesome parachute shot” with his lob wedge. “I threw it up over the bunker, it landed softly, and just dropped in the hole.” Another aggressive drive at the 13^th meant he picked up four shots in four holes from the turn, and gave him the cushion to cruise in for victory.

Booth (above), who grew up at Rotherham and is still attached there, was delighted with the win. “I’m really buzzing to have won the Sheffield Open, particularly here. We have an individual winners’ board, and I noticed that I wasn’t on it. So it’s very satisfying to know that my name will be on it from now on.”

Despite the immaculate condition of the course, conditions meant that Booth was the only player to break par. Four players were tied on level-par 71, among them Joe Dean, who admitted to still feeling tiredness having played all four rounds in the Open at Royal Birkdale. Fellow professionals David Hempstock from Bonday and Jonathan Thompson were joined by the leading amateur, Hickleton’s Luke Palmowski. It was a farewell performance for Palmowski, who leaves for the United States at the weekend, where he is bound for a golf scholarship in Oklahoma.

“I’m both excited and nervous,” admitted Palmowski, who is studying sports science whilst at the same time hopeful that the opportunity will see him maintain the remarkable upward curve of his game over the last 18 months.

Doubtless the experience will prove beneficial, just as was the champion’s spell at Stirling University some years ago. Booth is currently playing full time on the Europro Tour, where he has been in good form of late, finishing sixth two weeks ago. “My goal is to finish in the top five of the Order of Merit at the end of the season,” he said. He is hoping to carry his good form into September, when he heads to France for the first stage of the European tour Qualifying School.

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