Set up to mark the first Open Championship victory of the club’s most famous son, Sir Nick Faldo MBE at Muirfield in 1987, it is open to all male and female club and county champions affiliated to England Golf.
Practice day was played out under very wet weather but by the day of the competition itself, a cloudy start made way to blazing sunshine, and the players in the 36 hole competition lapping it up.
Entries for this year’s competition, from both men and ladies, exceeded the maximum field and a ballot was required based on handicaps.
Eventually a field of 63 players took part from all parts of England, including two past champions – Shaun Tarplett who won in both 1997 and 2002, and Ed Conduit, the victor in 1998.
The player with the lowest handicap was Jamie Baxter from Enfield GC, playing off +5.1, and with 28 players holding a handicap index of scratch or better, the ingredients were all there for an exciting day.
Thanks to the WGC green keepers, under the direction of Brett Cox, the course was in excellent condition and playing conditions were favourable for both morning and afternoon play.
Eight players scored rounds under par in the morning with the best being a 66 returned by Laurie Owen of Harpenden Common.
The afternoon round also saw some excellent scoring with the best again being 66, a feat achieved by Niall Johnston of Letchworth Golf Club and WGC’s own wonderkid Harry Cox.
That round from Johnston got him to 135, the same as Enfield’s Baxter who carded a second round 67, and meant a play-off was needed.
And the Letchworth man took the honours on the first extra hole to lift the replica Open trophy.
A 70 in round two from Owen was good enough to give him third place ahead of Cox, who edged Jamie Plews of Stocks Golf Club of Aldbury, Tring, into fifth on countback.
Owen also claimed the Tom Lewis Salver for the lowest 18 hole score, on countback from Cox and Johnston.
Countback meant Cox won the best afternoon score from Johnston.
The best lady, and winner of the Marlene Duke Trophy, was Tabitha Brain of the Newmarket-based Links GC.
She hit 73 in both rounds to card a 146 overall.
A spokesman for the Mannicotts-based Welwyn club said: “In 2026 the event will be held on Saturday, August 1, with the practice day on Friday, July 31.
“We look forward to welcoming back some of this year’s players who have already won their 2025 club or county championship.”
Faldo’s 1987 success was the start of three Open titles and wins at six majors in total.
It was also the first win by an Englishman since Tony Jacklin’s triumph in 1969.
He finished one stroke ahead of Paul Azinger of the USA and Australia’s Rodger Davis, having been three shots behind Azinger going into the final nine holes.
He went on to win the 1990 Open at St Andrews and then the 1992 edition, back at Muirfield.
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