Beamish Park’s Tom Skelton had a week to remember to finish the 2020 season, winning his home club’s men’s championship, scratch matchplay and handicap matchplay.
Tom, who plays off a handicap of one, won his first club championship with rounds of 74 and 73 in tough conditions before beating Adam Mottershead in the Presidents Cup scratch matchplay event and overcoming Gabriel Somerville-Smith in the Westwood Trophy handicap matchplay final.
Tom, who is the first player to achieve the hat-trick of titles in the same year, said: “The highlight has to be winning the club championship on one of the toughest weekends of the year weather-wise. I’ve been trying to win the club championship at Beamish for about eight years so to finally get my name on the trophy is fantastic.
“To do it in those conditions – the strong wind on Saturday followed by the rain on the Sunday – was a great feeling.”
Tom followed up his club championship victory with success in the Presidents Cup, beating Adam Mottershead in a three-hole playoff having tied the first 18 holes of the final. In the Westwood Trophy, just five days after the second round of the club championship, Tom completed the treble with victory over Gabriel Somerville-Smith.
Tom added: “One of the silver linings of 2020 has been the chance to practise more and put in some hard work. That work has really paid off and I’m delighted with the success I’ve had this season.”
