Ryan Pope crowned National Champion after winning the ICT National Golf Players' Championship
Hartpury Golf Academy and 1st Year AASE student Ryan Pope has won the Intercollegiate Tour’s (ICT) National Individual Tour Championships, at Hawkstone Park Golf Club. Ryan played some excellent golf over the 36-hole final, returning scores of 68 and 69 to post an outstanding total of 7 under par to win by three shots.
He held a one shot lead after the first round, following his 4 under par score of 68. His score could have been even lower, with four holes remaining he was 6 under par, but unfortunately a few putts didn’t drop for him over the closing holes. His afternoon round highlighted the improvements Ryan has made during the past few months, as he demonstrated a very high level of self-control, maturity and focus.
Starting on the back 9 in the afternoon he came in with a 2 under par score of 34, but dropped a shot at his tenth hole to hold a slender one shot lead at that time. However, he didn’t panic and gathered himself to make two birdies in his next five holes to steady the ship. He finished with three pars, including two excellent up and downs, to return an afternoon score of 69 and his 7 under par total.
The win completes an excellent season for Ryan on the college golf scene. He can claim to be the best player in College Golf in the UK, because he also recently finished tied for first place in the British Schools and Colleges Tour (BSCT) at Fairmont St Andrews, but unfortunately finished second on count back. He won both Individual Order of Merits in the ICT and BSCT to qualify for the National Finals in the respective competitions, and was part of the team that finished fourth in the BSCT Team Finals at Fairmont St Andrews and sixth in the ICT Team Finals at Kings Norton Golf Club.
He has also recently won the Individual Four Counties Championship and was part of the winning Devon Team in the same event. Lately, he finished in a tie for 21st place in the Fairhaven Trophy; one of the biggest competitions on the European Junior fixture list, consequently moving into the European Junior Top 50. Having beaten numerous international players along the way in these events, Ryan is developing a confidence and self-belief that is driving him on as a golfer.