Harry tipped to build on Duncan Putter success

National coach Neil Matthews believes “the sky is the limit” for Welsh international Tim Harry after his record breaking capture of the prestigious Duncan Putter trophy at Southerndown.

The 15-year-old became the tournament’s youngest ever winner in its 54-year-old history in difficult conditions, surrendering a big lead but showing real character to bounce back and grab victory.

Teenager Tim Harry is presented with the Duncan
Putter by Southerndown captain Ted Jones. 

“The sky is the limit for Tim if he keeps doing the right stuff and continues to work hard on his game,” said Matthews, who watched Harry make a breakthrough which could be monumental for Welsh golf going forward.

“It was a fantastic performance for someone of his age,” he added. “He held the lead at the end of every round, but it was more the manner in which he won in the final round than just winning itself which was so impressive.

“On the first day the weather was bad and he teed off in the worst of it, but played really well, hit the ball cleanly and putted nicely.

“He had a five-shot lead going into the final round, playing with Ireland's Shane McGlynn. He [hit] a few bogeys, while McGlynn had a few birdies, and after the 12th Tim was trailing by two shots.

“He hit a three wood to six feet on the next to get a birdie, a good tee shot for birdie on the 14th too, and when the Irish lad hit into the gorse, Tim was two up with three to play.

“He had straight fours on the closing three holes, which was a fantastic finish on a course like Southerndown in difficult conditions. You could not have asked for more in the way he handled himself. He stayed in the present, went through his routines and he will gain a lot of confidence from the way it went.

“It was a strong field for the Duncan Putter with some England internationals and the Irish players, which made it even more impressive.”

Harry's win was reminiscent of another Vale Resort player, Rhys Pugh, who won his first senior event at the age of 14 before going on to star in the last Walker Cup and become the first Welsh player to win the European Amateur Championship.

“There are similarities in the way they play,” admitted Matthews. “They both come out of the Vale of Glamorgan, they are mentally similar, but they are different personalities.

“Tim has put in a winter of hard work; he has shot up in height while keeping his lovely short game. He was part of the Wales Under-18s team that won the Cardigan Cup in Ireland a couple of weeks ago, [and was] one of the Welsh players who remained unbeaten in those matches.”