Hayling's Burden flying high
TOBY BURDEN basked in a string of impressive results and declared: It's about time.
The 22-year-old Hayling amateur quit his greenkeeping job at the beginning of the season in order to go full-time.
And under the tutelage of Hayling professional Mark Treleaven, Burden hasn't been shy of putting in the hard yards out on the course.
Now he's enjoying the fruits of his labour.
First – as reported in last weeks' On The Green – Burden won the Stoneham Trophy before missing out on the Mike Smith Memorial Trophy at Brokenhurst despite some more impressive scoring.
It meant the Solent Salver – incorporating the two 36-hole events – just eluded him and he had to settle for second spot behind Brokenhurst's Jon Watt.
Plus-three handicapper Burden then competed in the Parman Cup, a world-ranking event at St Mellion, Cornwall.
A first-round score of 81 was disappointing but subsequent totals of 69, 69 and 70 left him an agonising one shot off a play-off.
Burden said: 'I actually hit it all right in the first round but you can't miss a shot around that course. I dropped nine shots because I hit three bad ones.
'I was maybe a bit tired from the 72 holes the previous weekend but I just gritted my teeth and got on with it.
'After that my shot placement was a little bit better and my course management did improve.
'But it's one of the tightest courses I've ever played. Every tee shot is difficult – there is no let-up over the 18 holes.
'I couldn't believe I missed out on the play-off by one shot, though. Unbelievable!
'I started the second round with a triple and couldn't believe it was so close.'
Burden's other notable result this season came in the County Championship, where he came runner-up to Rowlands Castle's Tom Robson.
He now plans to spend the winter in Australia with Corhampton's Neil Raymond, playing tournaments and getting some warm weather training under his belt before the start of next season.
A decision to turn professional is expected some time in 2010.
Burden said: 'I was going to go to Tour Qualifying School this year – I was playing okay around July time but I needed to sharpen up my short
game. I still feel it's not quite good enough.
'I've been playing well for the past couple of years and have been sharpening up my short game.
'I've been hitting it well and have been since I've been seeing (coach) Mark Treleaven. I've just been waiting for a really good result.
'My long-iron play is getting better and I've made a couple of adjustments to my swing, and just been a bit more consistent.
'A lot of people have said it's about time I got a really good result because I practise way too much!'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -4 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
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