Wright shoots a timely reminder
Darren Wright has fired a reminder to the England golf selectors.
The 20-year-old was left out of this year's under-21 squad, but responded with a brilliant display in the French Amateur Championship.
He defeated each and every one of the national squad members – only to fall two shots short of forcing a play-off.
The Rowlands Castle ace, who was invited to play in the competition by the English selectors, is arguably number three in the country.
On form, only Essex's Dale Whitnell and Kent's Matt Haines, who won the Hamp-shire Salver at Blackmoor and North Hants in April, are in front of him.
But finishing second in France has given the English Golf Union chiefs food for thought.
Wright, who was gunning for his first overseas title, was beaten by a relatively unknown Finn, Kalle Samooja.
However, Wright led the field after the first two days, after carding rounds of 69 and 73, to lie level par with two rounds left on Sunday.
Wright, who finished tied 20th in the English Amateur Strokeplay at Moortown last month, was ahead by two shots. He said: 'I was playing with so much confidence, and hitting it so well.
'I went out with the same game plan on the last day – just trying to find the fairways and aiming for the middle of the greens.
'The wind had got up over the weekend and the pins were tucked away for the last two rounds, so I didn't go flag hunting.
'I really thought two rounds of level par would be good enough to win.
'I was taking the three-wood rather than the driver off the tee even if it meant hitting an extra club or even two on my second shot – I was that confident about how I was hitting my irons.'
Even after signing for a three-over par 74 in the third round, the 2006 Carris Trophy winner saw no reason to change his game plan.
But then word got back to Wright and his caddie – Hayling's Mark Thistleton, who missed the cut 24 hours earlier – that the Finn was flying in his final round, and was four-under par with four holes to play.
Darren said: 'The greens were as quick as anything I have played on this year, but that seemed to suit me.
'I gave myself birdie putts from inside 20 feet on nearly every hole, but a lot of putts either shaved the hole or just died short, and the odd one lipped out.
'I only had two three-putts all week, which was really pleasing, but I just didn't get the odd break here and there that I needed with my putting.
'Over the last four holes, I realised I needed to be a bit more aggressive if I was to catch the leader, and just tried to avoid any big mistakes in case he dropped a couple of shots coming in.
'I had a couple of chances over the closing holes and if they had dropped I would have forced a play-off.'
Wright ended the final round with a level par 71 to finish three-over, as Samooja posted 68, 69, to come from six shots back.
But the runners-up spot has set Wright up nicely for his first-ever taste of playing at St Andrews' old course this weekend.
Wright and Lee-on-the-Solent's Walker Cup hopeful Sam Hutsby will take on a top continental field in the St Andrews Links Trophy.
Three rounds will be played on the old and one on the neighbouring new course, starting tomorrow.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
