Kent’s Jake Potter emerged victorious at Copt Heath Golf Club in Solihull, in the West Midlands, marking the 43rd edition of the Peter McEvoy Trophy.
After an intense competition, Potter managed to capture the biggest win of his young career, narrowly beating second placed Alex Wells and Jack Peters in third, with a score of 208 from three rounds. The annual competition is one of the most prestigious junior golf events in the country, giving the chance for top British, Irish and international prospects to showcase their abilities.
It has often been cited as a defining moment in the careers of many golfing legends including Justin Rose and Lee Westwood, careers which Potter will certainly take great inspiration from. Speaking with Growth Consultancy Champions (UK) plc, the 17-year-old said: “The first round was obviously tough in the rain, I was on the late side of the draw which made the last few holes difficult but I managed to remain solid throughout.
“I made a good few pars through the tricky first four or five holes, and then put a good run together over the last few holes and maintained a great score to win. It’s the biggest win of my career so far.” Potter’s best moments came in the form of two eagles and a birdie on hole seven, as well as setting the groundworks for tournament victory by hitting the green with a 336-yard drive on hole eight in the third round.
His emerged as the tournament's frontrunner, and went into the final afternoon of play with a four-shot lead. When asked if this made for a nervy lunchtime, he said: “It was obviously better than a one, or two shot lead I can tell you that, but no it wasn’t the most comfortable lunch though!”
He continued: “My short game really bailed me out today. I hit a few loose drives on that back nine, but I managed to get the ball up and down well.
“My best shot was definitely on the back nine, the second into 15. I got my birdie back, I’d just bogeyed the hole before, and getting that birdie on the five was important.” Unlike previous tournament winner and his good friend Jack Lee, Potter doesn’t plan on enrolling in a US College.
Instead, he intends to continue playing in the amateur circuit for the next couple of years before turning pro. When asked about Lee and his plans going forward, Potter said: “Jack (Lee) is a brilliant player, winning the Peter McEvoy Trophy back-to-back over the last two years.
“He’s a good friend of mine. For me, I just want to play as well as I can really, and get as many wins in the bank as possible.
“This is a good start.”
