Hemstock Wins Play-off at Concra

Billy Hemstock won the Kingspan Concra Wood Open after beating Wallace Booth in a play-off following a gripping final day in Ireland.

The pair both shot two-under-par 70s in their final round to finish on six under par and send the event to a play-off starting on the ninth, where Hemstock shot a birdie two to claim the £10,000 winner’s cheque.

Hemstock (Teignmouth) began his day four under par, two shots off overnight leader Liam Burns (Sunridge Park). He made birdie, bogey, birdie at the first three to climb up the leaderboard and added a third birdie at the par-three sixth, taking him to six under for the week.

Booth (Comrie Golf Club), teeing off with Burns one group behind Hemstock, also made birdie, bogey, birdie at the start of his final round and then made four at the par-five fourth to move to six under par.

Another birdie followed for Booth at the eight but back-to-back bogeys at 10 and 11 saw him drop two strokes down the leaderboard. Hemstock also bogeyed the 10th but returned to six under par with a birdie at 14, leaving him to sign for a final round score of 70.

Booth quickly made up for his two dropped shots with consecutive birdies at 12 and 13 to take a one-shot lead over Hemstock. However, when the Scotsman took five at the par-four 17th he knew he needed to avoid dropping a shot on the 18th.

He made par and both headed to the ninth tee for the first hole of a sudden death play-off. Hemstock made birdie at the par-three, leaving Booth a long putt to remain in contention. The Scotsman came close but was unable to sink it for two and made par, handing Hemstock the victory.

Overnight leader Burns shot a four-over-par 76 in the final round and finished as one of seven players tied for sixth.

Stuart Manley (Machynys Peninsula) shot a four-under-par 68 to finish third on five under, one shot behind the top two. Bogeys at 14 and 17 denied him victory but the Welshman earned vital money to consolidate his place in the Order of Merit top five.

James Hepworth (Ilkley Golf Club) remains fifth on the Order of Merit after finishing the week fourth on four under par, largely thanks to a 69 in the final round. Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) finished the event two over par and tied for 29th, extending his lead at the top of the Tour Order of Merit. 

The Scotsman will not be in action at Frilford Heath next week due to his participation in the Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes.