Hindhead Golf Club member David Corben won the Logan Trophy by two shots on a thrilling final day at Enville Golf Club to become the 2023 English Mid-Age Champion.
Corben – who has lived in Farnham since 2020 and has been a member of Hindhead Golf Club for 25 years – held his nerve on the final couple of holes to ensure his six-under through 54 holes was enough to see off Craig Simmons (Shifnal GC) and Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor GC) who both finished four-under.
The Logan Trophy is the England stroke-play championship for golfers aged 35 and over. After the first day’s play, Corben enjoyed a two-shot lead as four shots separated 24 players at the top of the leaderboard, but he extended his advantage to four shots heading into the last round courtesy of six birdies on the second day.
Several players enjoyed good starts to their final round, with Simmons shooting five-under through the front nine after an eagle and three birdies. Simmons shot a six-under round, joining Young as joint-clubhouse leader on four-under overall, while Corben had dropped a shot out in the field.
Drama unfolded on the 17th as Corben had to hit a provisional ball after seeing his first head into the long grass. Last year’s winner Stuart Archibald (Test Valley), playing alongside Corben in the final group, was just two shots behind.
Corben found his original ball to recover par while Archibald’s second shot got snagged in the grass before he hit a bunker, effectively ending his chances of retaining his title.
Corben hit sand off the tee on the final hole but composed himself to recover par while Archibald slipped into fourth.
Corben is the current Surrey county captain and has been county champion three times.
He said: “The consistency of my game is pretty good – I very rarely have a bad round so I’m quite often in contention.”