Swede takes Brabazon abroad for first time in six years

Golf News: - Posted 17th May 1998

Swede takes Brabazon abroad for first time in six years

Formby, Lancashire - Peter Hansson, a 20 year old Swedish amateur, birdied the final hole at Formby for a course record 67 to take the Brabazon Trophy back to Sweden - the first time it has gone abroad for six years.

Irish international Brian Omelia, playing ahead of the Swede, posted the clubhouse target at Formby with a 71 for a level-par 288.

That left Hansson needing a birdie at the 419-yard 18th to land his biggest title to date. Two shots later his ball lay seven feet from the cup and he coolly rolled in the putt for his three and an aggregate of 287, the only man to finish under par over the testing Lancashire links.

For most of the three days it seemed that the title was destined to go overseas but Hansson was not the prime candidate.

In fact, he shot a morning 75 and began the final round five strokes off the lead held by Yorkshire's Simon Dyson.

Hansson made little progress over the front nine, but a run of four birdies in the final six holes saw him race to the front with only Omelia likely to deny him.

But although the Irishman got level with a birdie at the long 17th, that three at the last saw Hansson home.

"I was six over after six holes of my morning round and managed to card three birdies in my 75," he said. "This afternoon I said to myself 'just go out and do it'. I knew I needed a birdie at the last to win and managed to get it. Now I'm looking forward to the Amateur Championship in Scotland."

Omelia staged a fine comeback with a homeward nine of 31 and sank a 20-footer at the last for par after driving into a fairway bunker.

Dyson, England's newest international, soon lost his lead in the afternoon but managed to hang in for a 74 and third place on 289 while 15-year-old Nick Dougherty also shot 74 for fourth on 291.

Colin Edwards, the only previous winner of the Brabazon in the field, was joint fifth after a closing 71 but his England international colleague Gary Wolstenholme faded from the picture with a 76 for 298.