'Tiger' Housego English Champ

Mark Housego (Wycombe Heights) topped the field at the NAPGC Championships of England with two sterling performances around the gruelling Ramsdale Park course in Nottingham.

Housego, 21, took confidence from his recent good performance in the Golf Weekly Gold Vase to claim his first Public Golf Course National Championship with rounds of 74 and 72 to oust defending Champion Rob Swift (Walton Hall).

Swift led after the morning round with a steady 72 in the benign conditions and was confident that he would defend his title.

But Housego donned the 'Sunday Red' Tee shirt at lunchtime emulating his hero Tiger Woods.

A second round of 72 would be enough to snatch victory from Swift, who collapsed to a 75 in the afternoon.

But it could have been a disaster for the Wycombe player after his tee shot sailed 80-yards right into the trees on the 18th hole. Finding his ball in three feet deep nettles, Housego played a courageous shot sideways on to the fairway but left his five-iron approach 50-feet from the flag.

He knew he needed to two-putt for the victory and left his first seven feet short. But he plucked up the courage of his hero and drained the putt with a trademark Woods fist-pump.

"Tiger Woods is the man" Said Housego. "and like him, I always wear my red if I am in contention" Said Housego. "Even if I am eight shots behind, I still feel I have the chance to win. To win this Championship mean so much to me, It's a great event…but it hasn't sunk in yet".

Runner up Swift won the Northern Area Trophy and Clive Morris (Risebridge) picked up the Southern area Championship with two rounds of 75. Steve Green (Rose Hill) won the Midland trophy and Dominic Smith (Ruislip) won the J.H.Taylor shield.