Volkswagen Masters 2007 - Little Aston

The ninth Regional Final of the 2007 Volkswagen Masters was arguably the toughest yet as players battled it out on the outstanding Little Aston in horrific conditions.

With torrential rain all day many courses would have closed but Little Aston proved itself as one of the best draining courses in the country. The rough was thick and the course was playing longer than ever but competitors fought on with the vast majority posting a score in an attempt to reach the Volkswagen UK final.

Numerous changes to the course have increased both the difficulty and the enjoyment of this traditional inland layout. Most noticeably the 17th green has been completely rebuilt into the edge of a nearby water hazard creating an intimidating approach. The second hole has been lengthened helping to create an intimidating start.

It proved a fine day for Coventry Hearsall Golf Club with two members progressing to the UK Final. The most impressive round of the day came from +1 handicapper Sam Foster (pictured left) who shot a round of nett 75 to win Group A. ?I was fairly solid today, I hit lots of fairways and greens in tough conditions,? said Foster.

Group B was won by Coventry Hearsall member John Pritchard who shot a round of nett 80 playing of a handicap of 17. He will join all other Group B winners at the UK Final with a chance of qualifying for the world final to be held at the Arabella Resort in South Africa.

Group C winner was Little Aston member Tony Holroyde (pictured right). A round of nett 82 playing off a handicap of 20 was good enough to win the Tiffany carafe and a place in the final. ?This is my home course and I hugely enjoyed it. I slogged it out to the end and I?m delighted with the outcome,? said Holroyde.

______________________________________________________________________________

DATE: July 20

VENUE: Little Aston

T: 0121 353 2942

W: littleastongolf.co.uk

STATS: par 72, SSS 73, 6,670 yards

GF: £65

Ranked No. 113 in the Golf Monthly Top 120 Course Rankings

The drive into Little Aston is the beginning of something very special. The course is set in the rolling countryside of the former Little Aston Hall where there is a wide variety of mature trees.

There are three par-3 holes and three par5s and although the fairways are not unduly narrow, there are rewards for accuracy, especially from the tee. The course features two lakes and the 17th has to be the standout hole ? a great short dogleg par-4 surrounded by gorse, dense trees and water.

The par of the course is 72 but the standard scratch score is 73, giving some indication of the layout's difficulty. This is a lovely inland track in pristine condition which has a long and proud history. It was designed by the legendary Harry Vardon and boasts a clubhouse dating back to the 19th century.

LIPHOOK / WESTERN GAILES / GULLANE / ASHRIDGE / ST PIERRE / LONDON GC / SAUNTON / WOODHALL SPA / LITTLE ASTON / ALWOODLEY