'Sam's not too down', claims father after Open heartbreak (From Swindon Advertiser)

'Sam's not too down', claims father after Open heartbreak

10:10am Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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THE FATHER of Swindon’s young golf prospect Sam Matton says his son was not too downhearted after missing out on qualification for golf’s biggest tournament.

The 20-year-old amateur finished seven over par following two rounds of the Western Gailes course in Edinburgh, at local final qualifying for the Open Championship.

This meant the Broome Manor and Bowood club member missed out on one of the four available spots by nine strokes, and must wait a year for another shot at making the game’s greatest showpiece.

“He was a little bit disappointed, but he was happy with the overall performance, it was just three bad holes really,” said Simon Matton.

“The guy who won is a European Tour player (Fredrik Andersson Hed) so that’s what you’re in against.”

The back nine in Ayrshire caused young Matton particular problems as he dropped nine shots there over the course of the two rounds, whereas he only dropped two shots on the front nine.

Of his son’s first round, SImon Matton said: “He had a good first nine but made a double bogey on the 14th which was a bit unfortunate.

“The conditions were quite tough at that time of day.

“The wind got up in the afternoon and the last five holes were quite tough.”

Despite the disappointment of failing to qualify for Turnberry and competing alongside the likes of Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Swindon’s own David Howell, Simon Matton said his son would bounce back and could look forward to big things in the future.

“If he continues what he’s doing he will turn professional eventually,” he said.

Youngster Matton is due to play at the English Amateur Championship at Rye and Littlestone on July 27-August 1, taking in two tournaments before that, including the South of England Open Amateur Championship at Walton Heath.

Meanwhile, there was joy for Cumberwell Park pro Steve Surry at Western Gailes after he carded the best return of the tournament with a 66, to finish second behind Andersson Hed and seal his berth at Turnberry.

“Getting into any Major is always special but I think for us Europeans, the Open is the one,” said a delighted Surry.

Surry’s fellow Cumberwell Park man Craig Bell finished tied for 57th while Wrag Barn pro Martin Sell was seven shots away from qualification at Glasgow-Gailes Links.