GOLF: Minchinhampton amateurs win tournament in Dubai (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Gaskins and Higgs defy heat to earn famous win at The Els Club

4:36pm Monday 21st May 2012 in Sport

MINCHINHAMPTON golfers Ryan Gaskins and Joe Higgs overcame searing heat to won the Men’s Pairs Grand Final of the Matchplay Championship, one of the UK’s largest amateur golf events, at The Els Club in Dubai.

The pair took a decisive lead with a record-breaking second round score of 47 stableford points in the better ball format, but wilted in the heat on the third and final day to set up a tense finale.

At the halfway point of day three, Gaskins and Higgs saw their five-point overnight lead completely vanish as they stood level on points with their nearest rivals overnight, Chris Scott-Douglas and Mike Ankers from the Midlands.

However, a gritty back-nine performance of 21 points was enough to see the Minch pairing home by a single point from Andy Brown and Paul Oliver from Bognor Regis.

“We made it difficult for ourselves but pulled it together on the back-nine,” said Higgs.

Perfect weather was a feature throughout the week as the 40 finalists, who entered for just £25 from all over the UK & Ireland, enjoyed a truly unique amateur golf experience. The tournament was filmed for screening on Sky Sports.

Entries for next year's championship are already open. For further details visit www.matchplaychampionship.co.uk