GEORGE SAUNDERS, like all other golf fans, was glued to the TV at the weekend, cheering on Justin Rose in the former Hampshire junior’s attempt to claim a Green Jacket at the 21st attempt at Augusta.
The Liphook GC member, who was crowned Hampshire U16 champion in 2015, said: “I love watching the Masters as all golf fans do.
“Justin has been a huge inspiration for the last few generations of golfers who have worn the light blue for Hampshire – winning a US Open (2013) and the Olympic Gold Medal (2016) as well as being crowned European and World No. 1 in a fantastic career.
“As juniors, we all played in the competitions he played in as a kid when he was a member at Hartley Wintney, Tylney Park and North Hants, and some of us have got our names on the same trophies he won.
“We both won the Hampshire U14 title and if I could win the Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool, in June, I would stand a real chance of getting an invite to play in next year’s Masters – that would be the real pinnacle of my amateur career.
“It’s a great dream to have, and as Rory McIlroy said after his epic win last year to complete the golf Grand Slam in every major, you should ‘never give up on your dreams.’
“I have spoken before about how I want to give more back to the game, and be as good an example as I can be, supporting the members at Liphook, who have been brilliant for me and Sam Hutsby down the years.
Harry Ellis lines up a putt on the 18th at Calcot Park during t0he 2016 South East Qualifier, watched by George Saunders Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES
“But if I could match my old county team-mate and fellow Meon Valley member Harry Ellis and win the Amateur – and get that envelope with the hallowed invite to drive down Magnolia Lane next April – all the sacrifices and efforts since I was a junior will have been worth it.”
Saunders won the Hampshire Salver 12 months ago when Blackmoor GC hosted two 36-hole Opens to maintain the World Amateur Golf Ranking event after North Hants was forced to cancel the Hampshire Hog, because of a heavy winter maintenance programme did not give the greenkeepers enough time to get the course to the standard they felt the event required.
But having entered the Italian International Amateur Strokeplay event, the former England U16 cap was forced to pull out of all golf this week when a wrist injury flared up while competing in the Berkhamsted Trophy, last weekend.
Saunders, who was also a member at Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club, spent five years in the States on golf scholarship at three different universities, including a first year at Texas Midland, playing National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), where he was ranked third in the USA.