Brandon Skidmore becomes first player to defend Lagonda Trophy at Gog Magog Golf Club

Brandon Skidmore became the first player in the competition’s history to successfully defend the Lagonda Trophy.

The prestigious event, which has been hosted by Gog Magog Golf Club since 1990, was celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Previous winners of the tournament include the likes of Lee Westwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, who sent in a good luck video message for this year’s 66 competitors.

But none of the previous winners had been able to go back-to-back like Cotswold Hills Golf Club’s Skidmore, who only recently returned from college in the USA.

The best round in the morning on day one came from Stoneham Golf Club’s Joseph Buenfield, who made the perfect start with birdie 3’s at the first two holes and raced to the turn in 31 strokes.

Lying ominously one stroke back was defending champion Brandon, who returned 67, which included six birdies. Altogether 10 players broke par in the opening round in testing conditions.

Skidmore went one better in the afternoon with an impressive 66, which was bogey free and he shared the lead with first-round leader Buenfeld, who added a 67.

Together they led the field on 133, one stroke ahead of Joshua Rudkin of the Cosby Golf Club, who had rounds of 68 and 66 for 134.

The co-leaders struggled with the windy conditions in the third round and duly recorded rounds of 74, while the gusts continued going into the fourth and final round.

The two players remained level heading into the final hole but after Buenfeld had lipped out for his par, Skidmore held his nerve to two-putt for glory.