The Duncan Putter 2025

14 APRIL 2025 15:55

The Duncan Putter 2025

This years event was another resounding success!

Duncan Putter Dinner

On Wednesday we hosted the annual Duncan Putter Dinner, thank you to all the members and guests that attended. On the top table we were honoured to have the following Guests, John Jermine former Ryder Cup Wales and Wales Golf Chairman, one of Wales's most successful amateur golfers and a 2-time winner of the Duncan Putter celebrating his 50th year since the first win in 1975. Andy Ingram President of Wales Golf and successful Walker Cup and Welsh Teams Captain. Mike Evans the former President now Chairman of Glamorgan County Golf and Lastly but not least, Robert Jones MBE, former Wales and British Lions Rugby player who was our main Guest Speaker of the evening. It was a fantastic evening with our Bar and Catering staff providing the most excellent food, drink, and service. Our Director of Golf John Peters was our MC for the night introducing all our speakers.

A tribute and Minutes Silence was also delivered by our Chairman Paul Porter for the late Peter McEvoy OBE, a former Walker Player and Captain.

Once again thank you to all those who attended and all the lovely messages I received from members who thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Practice Day

Thursday, the wind was up slightly but the sun was shining for the Duncan Putter Practice day. Many of this year’s field took to the Course with great feedback, which I will mention a little later.

Tournament

Friday, the event started with round 1 getting underway at 8am and all players were greeted with most untypical Southerndown conditions with warm Sunshine and no wind at all. The course defended herself well, with only a select few under par, one of those being Harry Watkins of Southerndown and Royal Porthcawl, taking an early lead with a great round of 67 and new course record off our Black Tees.

Saturday saw similar scoring with similar weather conditions, although a little cloudier and cooler with very little wind. The cut mark was made at 13 over and those who were successful remained to play the 36 holes on Sunday.

The wind returned to Southerndown from its holiday on Sunday, although not severe, strong enough to make conditions tough for the final day.

The final scores with Prizes were

1st Place and Duncan Putter Winner - Jenson Bull of Parkstone Golf Club - 281 (+1)

=2nd Place Tie - Bailey Hird Cookridge Hall Golf Club and Lee Jones of Conwy Golf Club – 286 (+6)

4th Place - Harry Watkins Southerndown and Royal Porthcawl Golf Club - 289 (+9)

5th Place - Matt Kippen Enmore Park Golf Club - 290 (+10)

6th Place - Charlie Robb Buckingham Golf Club - 291 (+11)

Congratulation to Jenson Bull and all the those in the top 6 with special mention to Harry Watkins who I am sure his time will come soon and Lee Jones climbing up the leader board so well on the final day.

Other notable achievements were Paul Reid of The Glamorganshire aged 16, making the cut and even younger Dan Rowley from Creigau and Radyr Golf Club aged only 14 also making the final 36 holes.

I had the pleasure of meeting pretty much all the field, their families, friends, supporters and well wishers that attended the event. We were inundated with compliments regarding our course and its fantastic condition. Most notably from members of other prestigious courses such Royal Lytham, Sunningdale and many others. Andrew Gibson from Sunningdale and father of 15-year-old Roland who took part and narrowly missed the cut at his first attempt, commented on how he thought the course was amazing and in fantastic condition and that he and his son would love to play and compete here again. Second place Lee Jones former Welsh International and Greenkeeper at Conwy GC, commented on the course being in fantastic condition, the best he has ever seen it. I could include many more comments that were made after the practice day and following the 3 days of the competition. I recently came back from the PGA Cornish Festival last week, where I played Trevose and St Enodoc and I have to say Southerndown Golf Club is easily on par and worthy of these major great events.

Well done to Dave Shuttleworth Director of Course and Andrew Mannion Course Manager, along with his team on what they are achieving.

As Club Captain I would like to thank all the above, as well as the following for this year's event:

• Our Bar and Catering staff on doing a brilliant job over the weekend and keeping all our players, members, volunteers, and guests, well fed and watered during the week.

• Our Professional Team of Simon Askins and Morgan Grace on all their work behind the scenes.

• All our Volunteers on and off the course this includes several members of our Junior Section, Niall, George, Harry, and Ted. Thank you to all our Volunteers you are a credit to Southerndown Golf Club.

• Our starters, Byron Evans, Tony Newton, and Steve Roberts for making our Competitors feel so welcome.

• All the Wales and English Golf Officials and Referees in attendance, as well as our own Head Referee once again, Dave Shuttleworth. Thank you for all your rulings and helping the event run as smoothly as it has.

• Our Director of Golf John Peters for his tireless work and valuable experience in leading this event from the front.

 

The Duncan Putter doesn't run itself and it is such a success because of all of the above.

I would also like to thank all of our members who have supported the event this year by coming up the club to watch the players and stay for the presentation. It was great to see current and former club champions and worthy Duncan Putter competitors, who were unable to play this year but still came up to support the event. This includes Owen Greenow, Matt Mullooly and Llewellyn Matthews.

To the members, who have helped and supported this event, you are the backbone of our club, thank you all!

Lastly, we have hosted the Duncan Putter since 1959, it is a World Ranking amateur event, a Welsh Order of Merit Event and an opportunity for Walker Cup and National Selectors to cast their beady eye over some of the players early season form. Also, it is the stepping stone for some of our leading amateurs to become future playing professionals. We have seen players like Phil Price, Ian Woosnam, Jamie Donaldson, Sandy Lyle and Justin Rose (Runner up in this years Masters) all play and move onto greater things after playing this event.

Andy Ingram Wales Golf President said on Wednesday evening. The Masters signifies the start of the Professional season and The Duncan Putter signifies the start of the Amateur Season. Congratulations to Rory Mcllroy on Winning The 2025 US Masters and also completing a career Grand Slam as well as Jenson Bull on becoming the 2025 Duncan Putter Champion.

Lastly a massive thank you to all the all the players who took part, their behaviour, etiquette, and manners on the course were first class and every player with a trolley took a divot bag out with them, with a view to helping to protect our course during play. You are credit to the game of golf and are welcome to Southerndown Golf club anytime in the future.

The 2025 Duncan Putter has been a fantastic experience and I for one as your club captain, would encourage all our members to come along next year to experience and enjoy our Flagship Championship event, that is so renowned and steeped in the history of Southerndown Golf Club.

I’m sure that Colonel Tony Duncan and his father John Duncan would be very proud of how we are continuing their legacy.

Warmest Regards and thanks

Dan Thomas
Club Captain 2025
Southerndown Golf Club

Share this article