Matton is on top of the world (From Swindon Advertiser)

Matton is on top of the world

7:30am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Sport

NOT many golfers can say they have won a world title, but Bowood amateur Simon Matton managed to do just that recently.

The seven-handicapper won the Mercedes-Benz Trophy final in Stuttgart having recorded the best nett score over two rounds.

Matton scored 80 stableford points to see off competition from 84 players from 29 nations.

The conditions were incredibly tough on both rounds due to the heat in Germany, and it look Matton around seven hours to complete each set of 18 holes.

Nevertheless, having scooped overall victory, Matton understandably enjoyed himself.

“It was great,” said Matton, whose wife Lin caddied for him.

“The missus and I had an all expenses paid holiday in a five-star hotel and met lots of lovely people.

“I also drank quite a lot of beer.

“I just hit it up the middle, waited under the umbrella for the others to catch up then walked to my ball and hit it again.

“I never practice. When the Mercedes boys asked if I was coming up to the practise range, I said, ‘why, is the bar open?’.

“I never hit a practice ball the whole time. Our team captain Rob Moon was amazed.”

Matton’s score placed him seventh in the best gross competition, some achievement considering the top three were all off plus handicaps.

The Bowood man qualified for the tournament after playing events at Bowood, Burhill (Surrey) and the home of golf, St Andrews.

Matton added: “The whole thing was great.

“I really enjoyed the week at St Andrews as well, but I guess laying claim to a world title tops the bragging rights.”

In the team event in Stuttgart the UK came third, just one shot behind winners, New Zealand, while South Asia were second.

The Mercedes Trophy has been played for over two decades and is one of the biggest amateur golfing tournaments in the world.

More than 60,000 golfers start out in the competition, which features three handicap categories and begins with local stages. It is open to Mercedes owners and potential customers the world over.