Seve Day victor Geoff bags trip to the Masters

Severiano Ballesteros always loved rising to the big occasion and Geoff Thrower took a page out his golfing idol’s book to clinch a dramatic play-off victory in the final of Seve Day at The Belfry – and bagged himself a dream trip for two to the 2013 Masters.

Set up by Your Golf Travel in partnership with the Seve Ballesteros Foundation and CRUK, Seve Day has so far raised more than £70,000 for charity, combining funds from the 300-mile walk Your Golf Travel’s co-founders took part in from London to Royal Lytham back in July.

With a visit to Augusta on offer to the winner, the stakes could not have been higher for Thrower and his two rivals as they teed up at the first extra hole in the event’s grand final – the short par-fourth 10th on the Brabazon made famous by Ballesteros after he became the first player to drive the green at the 1978 Hennessey Cup whilst playing in a match against Nick Faldo.

But the 46-year-old from Ware, Herts, held his nerve under extreme pressure to close out victory with a nett par to clinch the star prize.

As well as winning the chance to see the climax to next year’s first Major, Thrower’s prize also includes three nights’ hotel accommodation and transfers to the course, flights, two rounds of golf, a full set of custom-made John Letters clubs, a pair of golf shoes and an array of other golf items.

The 11-handicapper, who is a member at The Hertfordshire Golf Club, said: “I still can’t quite believe that I’ve won. I’ve been walking around with a massive smile on my face ever since and I’m not sure when it’s going to go.

“I had never played the course and was very nervous at the start after being interviewed by the television cameras but, with my wife carrying my bag, I gradually relaxed and concentrated on having fun.

It’s a dream come true and I can’t wait. It’s my wife’s 50th birthday next year and we’re now planning an extended holiday on the back of the trip to celebrate.”

All 72 finalists received a free Glenmuir T-shirt and Sunderland jacket as reward for reaching the final stages, while a charity silent auction after the golf raised a further £1,737 to put towards research into brain cancer.

Your Golf Travel co-founder Ross Marshall said: “The response we have received from the public since we launched Seve Day has been nothing short of incredible. We thought the event would be popular but it has exceeded all our expectations.

“The manner of Geoff’s victory had all the hallmarks of Seve and it was fitting that he sealed victory on a hole that everybody remembers Seve for, with all the play-off finalists electing to try and drive the green in the true spirit of Seve.

“He was, and still is, an inspirational figure in European golf whose life was tragically cut short. Many people and their families, including myself, have been affected by cancer and we hope that the fantastic amount of money raised can help make a difference and aid research into brain cancer.”

The Seve Day Grand Final will be shown on Sky Sports in late November this year.

*For more information on Seve Day, visit www.seveday.com