Chris Czechs Out!

Sep 4 2008 The Journal

The North East's latest golfing sensation Chris Paisley responded from his narrow defeat in the English Amateur Championship final by winning the Czech Amateur Championship in Austerlitz. The 20-year-old from Stocksfield Golf Club in Northumberland carded a closing round of 67 for a 72-hole aggregate of 276, five strokes ahead of runner-up Marek Novy who closed with 73.

Paisley, who has been selected for the GB&I St Andrews Trophy team to face the Continent of Europe at Kingsbarns at the end of August, opened with 68 but fell back with a second round 73.

He told Golf North East: "The first round was played in probably the best conditions, very little wind and after a nightmare of a start, I played really well. Having birdied the first which is an easy par 5, I had a bogey at the second and then a double at the third but after that my game was solid and I made six birdies to finish the round four under.

"I struggled on the back nine during the second round, hitting a few loose shots which resulted in doubles. I think I lost a bit of concentration and finished one over but I was only one shot behind the leader."

However, another 68 in the third round kept him within one a shot of the leader and he added: "I played nicely in the third, kept the ball straight and in play and I putted well."

No one in the field could match his final round, a superb 67 and Chris said: "It was the windiest day of the week and the course was playing quite tough.

"I have to be honest, by then I was comfortable with the course and I thought that if I had a good round it was going to be difficult for anyone to beat me. I started birdie par birdie but the guy that was ahead of me started with three birdies. I just played really well from that point, making birdies and by the 13th we were all square.

"It's a drivable hole and I put a three wood into a greenside bunker. He put his shot out of bounds and made double and I got up and down for birdie so it was a huge turning point. I made a good par at the next and then holed a 40-footer for birdie at the 15th. That took me five shots ahead so I played the last three conservatively, making sure I hit the fairways and made three pars."

He concluded: "That was probably my best final round performance. I felt composed, played really solid golf and didn't give my opponents much of a chance. I've now been in contention a number of times in the last round of a tournament and I think the more you experience it, the more you get used to it.

"It's all about self belief and being able to play under quite a bit of pressure, making sure you keep to your pre-shot routine and keeping every aspect of your game under control."

The other English players in action, James Robinson and Adam Wainwright, finished down the field but saw England win the Nations Cup. With the best two cards to count each day, England ended on 282, three strokes ahead of second-placed Czech I team.

Since his historic win in last year's Rock Tournament held at Matfen Hall, Paisley has had a string of great results.

Out in the USA where he's on a golf scholarship, Chris won the Bank of Tennessee at the Ridges which included a course record 64 in the second round. He finished second at the Ping Arizona Intercollegiate and SEC Men's Championships and 4th in both the USC Collegiate Invitational and the Turtle Bay Resort Collegiate.

This summer back in the UK, he took second place alongside Gary Wolstenholme at the South of England Amateur Championships held at Walton Heath Golf Club, finished second in the Tillman Trophy at East Sussex National and at Woodhall Spa, he let a two hole advantage slip to lose in the final of the English Amateur Championships.

Paisley, whose brother Andrew is a pro at Matfen Hall, lost four holes in a row as he lost out by 2&1 to Todd Adcock of Sussex after a stunning week of golf.

Paisley said: "I'm bitterly disappointed. It's a shame to come all this way and not to finish it off but Todd deserved it. When I hit some loose shots he capitalised on it. But if you make a mistake around the Hotchkin course you get punished."

Leading final scores at the Czech Amateur: 276 C Paisley (Stocksfield) 68 73 68 67; 281 M Novy (Czech Rep) 70 72 66 73; 282 O Serres (France) 73 70 71 68, P Svajlen (Slovenia) 70 70 72 70. 285 L Tintera (Czech Rep) 73 72 69 71.