Mahy's double celebration as win secures scratch status

STEVE MAHY had a double cause for celebration as he landed the L'Ancresse Club's strokeplay trophy for only the second time. Mahy romped to a seven-stroke win with a one-under 36-hole total of 139.

At the same time, he also achieved scratch status for the first time.

'At the start of the season I had two targets.

'One of them was to win something big and one to get to scratch,' said the man known to his golf mates as 'legend', a mickey-taking reference to his outstanding ability but lack of titles.

'I feel I've underachieved for a while, so this is the icing on the cake.'

An opening three-under 67 was the basis for his win.

'To be honest, with the 67 I was five under going down 14, playing so well and thinking that anything was possible. But I dropped two coming in.

Ultimately, he shot a 72 and it was comfortably enough to hold on.

Andy Eggo and Mike Hamon, his two main rivals going into the second round after Danny Bisson ripped up in his first, both shot 76.

Another possible contender, Jamie Blondel, took seven at the fourth in his second round and walked in after 12 holes.

'I putted solidly throughout and didn't miss anything under three or four feet over the two weeks,' said Mahy.

'It was very pleasing, especially getting down to scratch.

'Hopefully, it is the start of things to come,' said the 34-year-old son of former island great Roy.

Within 24 hours of Mahy's triumph, Bobby Eggo was registering his 10th Royal Guernsey strokeplay championship.

Defending a one-shot lead at lunch after posting a 69, Eggo defied a strengthening wind and tricky greens to shoot 72 and win by four from island champion Nigel Vaudin.

Last year's club champion Mick Marley was fourth, seven adrift of Eggo who reported a steady two rounds.

'I only made four birdies all day.

'There was a bit of a breeze and the conditions of the greens got quite tricky as they dried out.'

Junior Club captain Emile Thompson had a mixed day.

His opening 70 had seen him tied second at the break, but a post-lunch 81 saw him having to settle for eighth.

Another junior, Daniel O'Brien, won the Garenne Trophy off handicap by a shot from the in-form Laurence Graham and former Junior Club captain Philip Wellfair.

Mark Collas won the L'Ancresse equivalent.