Farnham blind golfer Jason Bastable enjoyed a perfect start to the season with victory in the England & Wales Blind Golf Chairman’s Cup.

The 52-year-old won the stableford event with a score of 38 points, finishing one point clear of second-placed Amanda Large.

“It was a great result,” said Bastable. “It was my first event with my new caddy Paula Clegg, and because I won she now thinks I will win every time. Paula was absolutely brilliant and I can’t thank her enough.”

Bastable has a busy year ahead, with many events packed into the blind golf calendar. He will be competing in a number of England & Wales Blind Golf events, including the Primary Club Matchplay at Gaudet Luce Golf & Leisure Complex later this month, the Jack Kerfoot & Matchroom Stableford at Northop Golf Course in June, the British Blind Masters at Meon Valley in August and the Cowdrey Cup at Ingestre Park in September. The season ends with the traditional England versus Scotland match in September, which will be held at Hill Valley Golf Club.

Bastable has also been called up to play for the rest of the world against North America in the prestigious Handa Vision Cup later this year. The event will be held at Suessenbrunn Golf Club in Austria from Tuesday, July 23, to Friday, July 26.

This year’s event is the sixth staging of the Handa Vision Cup, with previous events having been held in the USA, Italy, Canada and the Republic of Ireland. North America are the defending champions, having won the 2022 event at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Bastable is looking forward to the challenge of competing with and against some of the best players in the world.

“I’m really looking forward to it – especially the team element and being on the same team as players I am usually playing against,” he said.

Bastable is a member at Blackmoor Golf Club, and he says the club play a big role in helping him compete on the world stage.

“I would like to thank everyone at Blackmoor for their unwavering support,” he said. “I can’t thank everyone at the club enough. The whole club are very welcoming.”

The British Blind Masters event at Meon Valley is looking for volunteers. The event will be held from Monday, August 5, to Wednesday, August 7. Anyone who is interested in volunteering at the event should contact Jason for more information and email [email protected] for further details.