HAMPSHIRE’S Stuart Archibald secured his second Logan Trophy title in four years cruising to a five-shot win at Rockliffe Hall, as he finished as the only player under-par at the North East course.
The Test Valley member – who has been a regular in the county’s South East League over the past three seasons – dedicated his victory to his wife and daughter after revealing that he will become a father for a second time later this year.
But the European Tour rep for Foresight’s Quad launch monitors, admitted he would struggle to celebrate his latest Logan win as he was hitting the road for Scotland straight after the tournament to work at the Scottish Open.
Stuart, who survived a three-man play-off and a bad back spasm over his last five holes at Liphook three years ago, said: “I’d like to dedicate this win to my partner Ashley and daughter Sofia.
“We’re expecting another child in December – so whether I play next year will depend on whether I’m allowed to leave the house after that.
“I hope I can play at Hadley Wood, and the following year it’s at my old club Blackmoor, so I’ll definitely be looking to come back and win there too,” said Stuart, who needs a third Logan triumph to match Hampshire’s former England Seniors captain Alan Mew, who claimed the title in 1989, 1990 and 1992.
Test Valley’s Stuart Archibald is just one of six players to have won the Logan Trophy more than once. Picture ENGLAND GOLF
“I’m going to celebrate by driving up to Edinburgh for work at the Scottish Open,” Archibald added. “So no playing golf for a few days, and then I’ll be off to The Open in Ireland so hopefully I can enjoy a Guinness or two there.”
Archibald, who won the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship in 2006 – before spending more than a decade in the pro ranks – regained his amateur status just as Covid struck five years ago.
Having won the Hampshire Mid-Amateur Championship at the second attempt, and picking up the Mike Smith Memorial Trophy – both at Brokenhurst Manor – in 2021, the three-time EuroPro Tour winner believes he is playing better than ever right now, having picked up maximum points in the county’s win over Sussex last month.
The 40-year-old said: “My iron play was really solid and my putting was probably as good as it ever has been, and that was always my Achilles heel before. But I putted lovely on the back nine and that was enough to get it done.
“The wind was really tough on the first two days. One of the strengths of my game has always been my distance control and playing pin-high golf, and to get it to some of the plateaus where some of the pins were, was tough.
“I think everyone struggled, it created some challenges with putting and also keeping the ball in play.”
Asked about where he’ll be putting his trophy he revealed: “It depends where my other half will let me put it! She doesn’t like me bringing home trophies.
“To play in any England Golf Championship is an honour and I’m delighted to win another trophy, it’s a great achievement.”
Stuart Archibald admires the Logan Trophy after the three-time EuroPro Tour winner won the title for the second time in four years. Picture ENGLAND GOLF
The first two days of the English Mid-Amateur Championship (Over 35s) saw 40mph winds make scoring tricky, before a calm final day, until heavy showers hit the leading groups on the course.
Bishop Auckland’s James Glenn shot five-under on the back nine on Saturday to play his way into the final group, tied on one-over and the first four holes gave plenty of encouragement to the chasing pack as they started with rollercoaster ride.
Glenn picked up a shot at the first to edge ahead, but dropped back to two-over after a bogey at the second and a double after the fourth sandwiched another birdie at third.
Archibald dropped his first shot at the second but bounced back brilliantly with a four at the par-five third, only to make a double bogey of his own at the troublesome fourth to drop a shot behind.
The Hampshire ace kept his cool though and responded by making three straight birdies on five, six and seven to take the lead, although it was by just one slender shot.
Four bogeys on the back nine and just a solitary birdie all but ended Glenn’s hopes, while Archibald held his nerve to birdie 12, 15 and 17 to seal victory, with the only other blemish a dropped shot at the 13th.
Chester-le-Street’s Kevin Suggett broke out from the chasers with a best-of-the-week 67 to snatch second as Glenn slipped back to fifth on countback.
Archibald is one of six players to have won the Logan twice, while Mew, Stanton-on-the-Wold’s Charlie Banks, and Yorkshire’s Stephen East have all won it three times, with Banks’ victories in successive years from 1995.
Brokenhurst Manor’s Martin Young is the only other Hampshire player to have won the English Mid-Amateur title, in 2006, at Hayling, the same year and venue where Archibald claimed the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship, beating current county captain Toby Burden in the final over the tough links course.
•FINAL RESULTS LOGAN TROPHY 2025
Stuart Archibald claimed the Logan Trophy at the 2022 English Mid-Amateur Championship, at Liphook GC. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES