Australian Dylan Perry was left lamenting in leading 4up with five holes to play only to lose the 122nd British Amateur Championship at the 38th hole at Royal St. Georges in Kent.
Perry was looking to become the second Australian in seven years to win the prestigious event and not only secure entry into The Open next month but also the Masters next April.
Instead the Musselbrook born Perry had to watch as England rival Harry Ellis was handed the gleaming trophy and in the process dedicating the win especially to his late mother, Tracy who was just 50 when she died from cancer some four years ago.
Perry went into the 36-hole final having beaten Argentinean Alejandro Tosti 3 & 2 in his semi-final encounter.
The opening 18 ended all square but with Perry, and the reigning Riversdale Cup winner, bogeying 17 when leading 1up.
After a short luncheon break the Australian found himself 1 down in losing to a birdie at the second but was soon back to all square when Ellis doubled the fourth and with Perry taking a bogey.
Perry then took control with a birdie at the fifth and was 2up when Ellis dropped a shot on six before going 3up when he also birdied the seventh.
The New South Welshman found himself soon leading 4up when Ellis lost the ninth to a bogey.
The 21-year-old Englishman, who had won the English Amateur Championship he won in 2012 at the age of 16, got one back with a birdie on 1o but gave that straight back to Perry with a bogey on 13.
Perry then only needed to win 14 and the match was over.
But funny things happen in golf!
Perry proceeded to bogey 14, when he bunkered his second shot and failed to reach the green in regulation, and then bogeyed his closing three holes leaving the match all square but with the mental advantage clearly on the side of Ellis.
The two pared the first extra hole.
However, Ellis then sealed a remarkable victory at the 38th hole when Perry missed the green with his second, and duffing his first chip and needed another to find the green but then missing an eight-foot bogey putt to walk off with adouble bogey, and with Ellis managing a par.
“I’m pretty bummed, but at the end of the day you’ve got to take the positives out of the week,” said Perry.
“T played well all day and down the stretch that’s what pressure does to some people. It just wasn’t meant to be but congratulations to Harry. He played well down the stretch so good on him.”
In contrast, Ellis was naturally delighted.
“It’s unbelievable,” Ellis said. “I can’t believe what I have just done but you should never give up and never give in. The Open is very soon. Obviously, it’s on another links course so we will see how we go.
“I just want to soak up the experience there and get as much from it as I possibly can. It has always been a dream to play in majors and now I get to play in three, with next year’s Masters and US Open, as well.