Bailey Hampson blew away the opposition to land the Country Stroke Play Championship for the second consecutive year.
The Bunbury GC member announced his arrival as a serious talent when winning the equivalent event at Wanneroo GC in 2024, aged just 19.
Fast forward 12 months and Hampson’s game has reached new heights. He dominated the championship at Joondalup Country Club to win the blue ribbon event of Drummond Golf Men’s Country Week by an incredible 12 strokes.
Hampson made light of some tricky conditions and slick greens around Joondalup’s Dune/Lake layout to establish a strong lead after round one of the 36-hole event.
His excellent, three-under-par 69 put Hampson three clear of Evan Sewell (Manjimup GC) and Peter Darmody (Albany GC), but it proved to be a mere warm-up to a dominant display in the afternoon.
In gloomier conditions, Hampson shot the lights out to card a blemish-free, six-under-par 66 in Round 2 to complete one of the most commanding victories in years.
The chasing pack simply didn’t have enough in the tank to chase Hampson down, with the ever-green Sewell claiming the runner-up spot with a very creditable +3 total — a score that would have earned him top spot in many previous championships.
Bailey Hampson’s raw power and accuracy off the tee helped him to a commanding victory
The day, though, was all about Hampson, who attributed his success more to doing the simple things right than anything else.
“I pretty much kept the ball in play all day and didn’t miss many fairways,” Hampson told GolfWA. “The fairways are quite wide here, but if you miss them you get in trouble pretty quick.
“Keeping it in play gave me a lot of chances to get the ball close, and I holed a few putts, so I’m pretty pleased with how I played.”
Although he has ambitions of turning pro and playing at the highest levels, Hampson says the championship – and Men’s Country Week as a whole – holds a special place in his heart.
“It means a lot to win,” he added. “Being from the country myself, it’s nice to see everyone come together at this event and it’s probably one of the most fun weeks of golf of the whole year.”
View the final leaderboards from the Country Stroke Play Championship here.
Keep up with all the events from Drummond Golf Men’s Country Week here.
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