Saltford golfer wins Spanish title

Saltford golfer Laurie Canter has won the Spanish Amateur Championship.

He beat fellow Englishman Stiggy Hodgson by an incredible 11 and 10 margin in the matchplay final in Barcelona.

Canter had been worried about his form going into the competition, having gone out in the first round of his last three matchplay events.

But he said: “Golf is such a fickle game. In the end, this ranks as my biggest amateur win! I'm absolutely delighted that the work I’ve put in on my long game has started to pay off. Granted it was putting that ultimately made this week happen, and that's lesson learnt there; but it's sometimes difficult when things aren't going your way to stick with the plan, believe in yourself and the work you are doing.”

Canter follows in the footsteps of fellow Saltford member and former Walker Cup player Matthew Stanford who won the championship on the same Barcelona course 20 years ago.

Canter said: “It makes it extra special that Matt, my great friend and foursomes partner at Saltford won this championship on this golf course. He has been a huge help in my development and it was so cool to win it like he did.”

Last year Canter got into the England A squad after winning the South African Amateur Championship and was also the country’s amateur strokeplay champion.

In 2010 he also won the Hampshire Hog title, was West of England strokeplay champion and played in the European team championship.

The promising Canter is in this year’s England elite squad and the Walker Cup squad. He is coached by former Ryder Cup player Gordon Brand  Junior.