Brian Wilson Wins First Bridgestone Amateur Championship

Bedfordshire golfer Brian Wilson produced an impressive round at The Belfry, shooting 37 points on the demanding PGA National course to claim the first ever Bridgestone Amateur Championship.

The Bridgestone Amateur Championship saw 1,200 players compete at nine qualifying events around England between May and July, culminating in a final at The Belfry, home of four Ryder Cup matches. In claiming the title, Wilson, a 12-handicapper from Leighton Buzzard Golf Club who had only arrived back from a New York business trip hours before teeing off, picked up the winner’s shield and a Gleneagles voucher for more than £1,200.

“I’m delighted to win the Bridgestone Amateur Championship,” said Wilson. “I really enjoyed the qualifying competition on my home course, as well as the challenging final event.”

Bridgestone also offered finalists at The Belfry the option of being fitted for a new golf ball. The Bridgestone Ball Fitting Challenge – which has delivered an average increase of 10 yards per golfer fitted this year – analyses swing speed, launch angle and spin rates to determine the ball that delivers the most distance and accuracy for each individual player.

“The very first Bridgestone Amateur Championship was an undoubted success and we’d like to thank every player who competed over the past four months,” said Yasuyuki Okude, CEO of Bridgestone Golf UK. “Our congratulations go to Brian on such a great performance, as well as all of the other golfers who made it to the final and benefitted from a Bridgestone ball fitting.”

The qualifying golf days this year were held at Walsall GC; Muswell Hill GC; Leighton Buzzard GC; Huntswood GC, Buckinghamshire; Ingon Manor CC, Stratford-upon-Avon; Nott’s GC, Hollinwell; George Washington, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Trentham GC, Staffordshire and Louth GC, Lincolnshire.

Bridgestone has been the sponsor of the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Classic at Firestone, Ohio, since 2006.