Ryan Evans picked up the biggest title in his amateur career with a dramatic one-stroke victory from New Zealand’s Vaughan McCall in the Berkshire Trophy over the weekend.
The Wellingborough member joins a list of previous winners, which includes Sir Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Ross Fisher, after shooting a score of eight-under-par 279 around the two beautiful woodland tracks.
Evans, who finished runner-up in the St. Andrew Trophy and finished joint-third in the French Amateur earlier this month, started with a 68 before adding a 72 on the blue course to lie one off the lead in second.
Although he bagged six birdies and an eagle in a 70 on the final morning and then went to the turn in one-under in the afternoon, Evans found himself two adrift going down the stretch on the red course.
The plus-four-handicapper, who was playing in the penultimate group, responded with birdies on the 11th, 13th and 17th holes before sinking a swinging eight-footer for par on the last to set the clubhouse pace.
McCall, who was in the last group, remained in control when he bagged his sixth birdie at the 15th, only to blow his chances with a wayward tee shot on the 16th before three-putting the final two greens.
The drama was not over for Evans however as the 26-year-old faced the grim prospect of being disqualified after a mix-up with his playing partner’s scorecard.
Fortunately the event organisers deemed there were was no breach of rules, much to the relief of Evans, who said: “I felt a sick at the end when I thought I might lose it.
“I swapped scorecards with my playing partner on the first tee, but unfortunately we were given the wrong cards. We didn’t notice until after the round. It was a silly mistake, but the rules bailed me out.
“I was delighted with how well I played because I determined not to miss out again. I might not make it into the 2013 Walker Cup squad but I’m giving the selectors some nice headaches!”