Teenage South African Aldrich Potgieter built a seemingly insurmountable lead and then withstood a stirring comeback from Sam Bairstow to win the 127th Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lytham St. Annes, England.
In the 36-hole final over the Lancashire links, the 17-year-old held on for a 3-and-2 victory over the Englishman to become the youngest winner of the championship since Matteo Manassero triumphed in 2009 aged 16.
“It’s really amazing,” Potgieter said. “I can’t really find the words, there’s no feeling like it and I haven’t felt this good before. The words can’t even come out of my mind.”
