Northampton golfer Jack Peters wins prestigious Carnegie Shield after 1,000-mile round trip
A 20-year-old Northampton golfer has claimed one of amateur golf’s most prestigious trophies after making a 1,000-mile round trip to the Scottish Highlands.
Jack Peters rounded off a memorable week at Royal Dornoch with a 4&2 victory over Prestwick’s Cameron McGarvie in the Carnegie Shield final.
The US college student, who has aspirations of joining the professional ranks, built a three-hole lead by the turn before closing out the match on the 16th green.
There was a bizarre moment on the 16th when a seagull swooped down and flew off with McGarvie’s ball before dropping it near the green.
Jack, a +4 handicap member at Northamptonshire County and Woburn, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it on a golf course.
“It was quite funny and luckily it didn't have any effect on the result.”
The former Bedford School pupil is preparing for the third year of a Business Management degree and golf scholarship at Kaiser University in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Jack first visited Royal Dornoch with his father Richard when he was 14 and returned for the competition following his dad’s suggestion. Richard was on his bag throughout the week, while his mum Zoe and their Cavapoo, Colin, followed all five matches.
Jack said winning the Shield was the “perfect way to end the summer” before returning to the US and also restored his World Amateur Golf Ranking.
He added: “Winning the Shield has certainly made the 530-mile journey from Northampton to reach Dornoch worthwhile.”