The YesGifts British Open 2008

The inaugural golfing competition of the year took center stage Beauchief Links this week, set in the stunning South Yorkshire valleys of Sheffield. The competitors faced a grueling challenge of 18 holes played out in testing conditions, as the wind and rain battered the fairways.

The 20 strong field comprising employees, clients and suppliers set about their challenge with a bag full of hope and hearts filled with ambition.

Early on, it became evident that two players stood head and shoulders above the rest, coincidentally playing in the same group, AJ Brown and Andy came head to head in a gladiatorial confrontation. AJ Brown took the initiative, with a hole-in-one on the 9th with a stunning 8-iron on the 152yd Par 3. With this cupful of vigor, AJ Brown went on to Par and Birdie the 10th and 11th respectively. Undettered from dropping 4 shots behind, Andy showed the resolve of a lion heart and forced himself back into the game. With only 4 holes to play and lying two shots off the lead, two Birdies on the 16th and 17th led to a nail biting climax.

Stood on the tee, both players contemplated what lay before them on the final hole. Two solid drives cutting the fairway in half left both players ready to make their final assault onto the 18th green. AJ Brown hit a 7-iron to only twelve feet beyond the whole tournament, heaping the pressure onto Andy for his final approach. Taking into account the green break and the strong wind, Andy punched a 6-iron into the green and to only seven feet from the cup. AJ Brown ran his put agonizingly close to the hole, leaving a simple tap-in for Par. The whole rested on a single putt, with a seven foot left-to-right break, Andy showed the nerve of a Ryder Cup veteran, to stroke the winning putt and thus take his seat upon the throne of victory.