Guernsey Press

Boyd's brilliant 60 nets him 'big' win

ON A day of incredible scoring, one round stood out above all others – and by quite a distance.

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Appleby L'Ancresse Open 2021. Left to right: Scratch salver winner Arthur Evans, L'Ancresse Golf Club captain Alan Mahy and Open winner Andrew Boyd. (Picture by Gareth Le Prevost, 30024315)

Andrew Boyd is thought to have set a new record on Saturday as he made the most of ideal conditions to win the re-arranged Appleby L’Ancresse Open by four shots with a remarkable 10-under-par 60 nett.

This year’s Island Senior Men’s Championship runner-up carded five birdies in his 69 gross, a round even he agreed was ‘phenomenal’ for a nine-handicapper.

‘It was good, I’m pleased,’ said the winner with a huge degree of understatement.

‘To win this is big. It’s a massive event down here and I’ve played in it every year for years and last year I got the veterans’ prize.

‘I’m very proud to win it.

‘It was a good day, everything went great, played well tee to green and made a lot of birdies out there.

‘I had some lessons recently, which helped out there I’ve got to say. My chipping was a lot better and while I missed a few putts as well, everybody did, so it was a good score.’

Victory meant he has now completed an impressive double having previously won the La Grande Mare Open on his home course in 2018.

Boyd added that while he has enjoyed a good season this year, most of his previous good form had come in matchplay events which is why he went into the weekend playing off nine.

He is substantially lower now.

‘I’m now off five – I’ve been cut four shots overnight.’

In total, 25 players broke par off handicap and Boyd was one of five players to return gross 69s, which were the best scratch scores of the day.

He was unable to complete the double, though, as new Island cap Arthur Evans took the Scratch Salver on countback ahead of Guernsey teammates Danny Bisson, Ollie Chedhomme and Bobby Eggo as well as Boyd.

  • More in Monday's Guernsey Press.