Scott Gregory: Nothing but positives from Spanish second

Scott Gregory, left, with winner Romain Langasque. Picture: Adolfo Juan Luna

The Waterlooville talent was second only to British amateur champion and world number seven Romain Langasque, of France.

Gregory, from the England Golf A squad and ranked 110 in the world, lost the 36-hole final at the Real Club de Golf Seville by 9/8.

But afterwards the Corhampton member was upbeat about the overall experience.

‘I’m disappointed not to have got the win but Romain is an incredible player,’ said Gregory.

‘This is the first time I’ve got to the final of an international field event which is a huge positive for me.

‘My goal going in to the week was to make the match play stages, so there’s nothing but positives to take.

‘I putted very well all week but it was just one of those days when nothing really got going.

‘It was an incredible experience for next time I’m in this position which, with how my form has been of late, shouldn’t be too far away.

‘So a positive week and a lot of things learned about myself and my game.’

The 21-year-old led the English challenge from the start of the championship, qualifying in 11th place for the matchplay stages where he was joined by Bradley Moore, James Allan, James Walker, Golf at Goodwood’s Marco Penge, Jamie Li and Dan Brown.

Gregory beat Penge in an all-England tie and was joined in the second round by Walker and Moore, who also defeated a compatriot, in this case Allan.

Moore lost his second-round match but Gregory and Walker moved steadily on, reaching the semi-finals in opposite sides of the draw and generating hopes of an all-England final.

But Walker met Langasque in his semi-final and despite a superb effort was eventually beaten on the 19th hole.

Gregory, however, made it safely through to the final with a 4/3 win over Ireland’s John Ross Galbraith.

But his challenge ended when he met Langasque and, for the second time, Gregory was runner-up in a national championship, following his run to the final of the 2014 English Amateur Championship.

Gregory has already tasted success in Spain this season, having helped England to a decisive win in the Costa Ballena Quadrangular tournament.