WELLOW’S Dave Porter added the county’s Mid-Amateur Championship trophy to his sideboard some 23 years after he claimed the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship for the one and only time.
The former England Boys captain, who partnered Justin Rose in foursomes in the Hampshire Boys teams when he was just 13 years old, revealed the only disappointment of earning his third major county title to his collection was that he did not claim the county strokeplay championship at the same time.
Both events were combined by Hampshire Golf some 15 years ago when they were played at Liphook – and now with the old Courage Trophy replaced by the Maplesden Bowl, it was fitting that the tournament was played for the first time at the East Hampshire heathland track where former Hampshire President and secretary Keith Maplesden was a member for more than 30 years.
After his sudden passing three years ago, Hampshire Golf decided to retire the Courage Trophy – which was first awarded back in 1963 – and create the Maplesden Bowl, in memory of the former IBM accountant’s incredible contribution to the county since the early ’90s when he became secretary of the then golf union.
Porter (above left) may have spent the last three years since regaining his amateur status giving something back to the county that helped him develop into a possible star at Tour level by managing the Hampshire U14s and U16s teams.
But the 43-year-old former Carris Trophy winner showed he has lost not any of his competitive edge by winning the Hampshire Over 35s title by two shots on Sunday.
He shot rounds of 72 and 74 to finish on four-over par, beating another former county champion Darren Walkley, who was a member at Liphook when he won the Hampshire Order of Merit three years ago.
Dave Porter, whose son Farren won the Hampshire U14s title he claimed back in 1996 two years ago, said: “It means so much as a dad to win the Mid-Am while my boy is competing in the field for the Strokeplay trophy.
“The only disappointment is that I really fancied myself to win the big one at the same time. I know my game is still good enough to play against and beat the best the county has got to offer.
“The problem I have is that my body does not always agree. I had a major back operation a couple of years ago because I want to be able to play in these events – and show I can still compete,” said Porter, who has managed Hampshire’s U14 and U16 teams over the last four years.
“Unfortunately, I am still having to nurse my body through these events, and the Mid-Am was a case where it could not quite deliver what I needed to win the Maplesden Bowl,” Dve revealed.
“Thirty-six holes in one day can still be tough after having two discs removed and replaced with rods and screw. But when I can get my fitness right, I will be right there.”
To anyone who was not around during Porter’s pomp as one of the top two or three junior prospects in the country, that might sound like arrogance of the highest order.
David Porter who won the Carris Trophy at High Post GC, in 1999. Picture ENGLAND GOLF
But the former Great Britain and Junior International, whose career in the pro ranks was hampered by injuries almost from the start, is not afraid to speak from the heart – and his head.
He added: “It was the same at the county championship. I was on course to qualify for the knockout, but I struggled with my fitness over the closing holes, and missed out by just a shot.
“I would have backed myself to win that week if I had been in the hat for the matchplay draw, on the Friday night.
“I would not bother entering these championships if I did not want to try to win them… or if I genuinely didn’t believe I could win them,” said Porter.
“Anyone who knows me, knows that isn’t me just entering to make up the numbers,” added Dave.
That might sound like a declaration of war on the burgeoning ranks of talented players Hampshire can call upon right now.
But Porter revealed after his sole county championship win at Shanklin & Sandown, in 2003, that he was absolutely determined to get his hands on the Sloane-Stanley Challenge Cup before ending his amateur career.
And with England announcing that two of Hampshire’s highly regarded U18 squad will form a quarter of England’s Boys 2027 squad – some 27 years after Dave Porter was named a member of the England School of Excellence – the fight for the five major trophies on offer in next season’s Hampshire Golf’s amateur calendar has just got even more interesting.
•FULL HAMPSHIRE MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES
Wellow’s Farren Porter did the double in the Hampshire U14s Championship in 2024. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES