Volkswagen Masters 2008 – Hillside

With the excitement for this year s Open building on England s Golf Coast the Volkswagen Masters visited Hillside for the latest regional qualifier.

Hillside sits between the famous Royal Birkdale and the impressive Southport and Ainsdale. It combines classic links golf with mature trees that help create a stunning setting for golf. The back nine was once described as the best in Britain by Greg Norman and the enormous dunes that surround each hole make it easy to see why. Fairway bunkers are brilliantly placed throughout the course making you really think about tee shot placement. The course plays over 6,800 yards making good ball striking equally as important as accuracy.

Many prestigious events have been held at Hillside, the course will once again hold Open Championship Final Qualifying this year.

There were some impressive scores in the third Volkswagen Masters 2008 regional qualifier with local knowledge proving extremely important.

In Group A Moortown s Chris Metcalf was victorious with a round of nett 72 playing off 9. It was extremely close with Mark Howard loosing out on count-back after also shooting a round of nett 71. Glynn Williams of Seascale finished in third place with a round of nett 73 playing off 5.

Group B was extremely close with Hillside member Stuart Metcalf claiming victory. The 10 handicapper shot a round of nett 75 playing of a handicap of 10.

Patricia Boden of Fulford finished second after shooting the same score but missing out on the last 6 holes. David Barnfield finished third after also shooting nett 75 but again missing out on count-back.

Group C was won by another Hillside member, Warren Butcher who achieved 36 Stableford points playing off 21. Hesketh member Philip Silver was second with 35 points and Rosanne Tabibi of Hillside was third.

The three group winners will compete in the UK Final at the Westin Turnberry Resort on 15th and 16th September.