It was virtually a double-header at Hoylake last week in the final event of the AGW season. While the ten-man field were playing for the Fred Pignon Trophy, Colin Callander and Rob Perkins were also going head-to-head in the battle to finish as the AGW ETIQUS ‘Road To Hoylake’ Golfer of the Year.
By winning the Ron Moseley Memorial Trophy the previous day at Delamere Forest, Perkins moved to within a point of Callander at the top of the standings. Barring total calamity, no one else in the field at Hoylake had a chance of getting ahead of the leading pair.
The defending champion, Perkins knew he had a battle on his hands against Callander, who picked up the trophy in 2017 and shared the title with Alistair Tait in 2016.
Derek Lawrenson with Peter Dixon
The weather gods were kind this year and Hoylake was seen in all its glory on a beautiful, sunny day. That said, scoring proved difficult. In their own words, neither Callander nor Perkins – who went head to head – played sparkling golf, although they battled to the end before the latter emerged once more as the champion.
With three holes to play, Callander still held a lead of one point in what was proving a game of nip and tuck. Games turn on key moments, however, and Rob timed his to perfection. He moved one point ahead after a net par to a Callander ‘blob’ at the 16th and then delivered a hammer blow by chipping in for a par, net birdie, at the next. With a lead of three points coming down the 18th, Perkins was not to be caught. Out in 13pts, home in 15, the defending champion finished the season two points ahead of Callander.
Elsewhere, Derek Lawrenson was playing the best golf of the day. Had his putting been the equal of his excellent play from tee to green, then he would have romped to victory over these famous links. As it was, 32 points, made up of two halves of 16, was enough to seal victory in the Fred Pignon Trophy by one point from Andy Waple, who was making his debut in the end-of-season finale. This was Derek’s fourth win in the event, his previous victories coming in 1995, 1999 and 2007.
2019 AGW CHAMPIONSHIP (Fred Pignon Trophy) – Royal Liverpool GC
Tuesday, 28th October, 2019
1st … Derek Lawrenson 32 Stableford Points (H’cap 9)
2nd … Andy Waple 31 (11)
3rd … Rob Perkins 28 (10 at Delamere, 8 at Hoylake)
4th …Iain Carter 28 (?), Matt Cooper 28 (12)
6th … Colin Callander 25 (8), Colin Harding 25 (7)
8th .. Peter Dixon 17 (17)
Others … Trevor Peake N/R, Dick Turner N/R (15)
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