Harley Smith triumphed in a thrilling 36-hole final to win the English Amateur Championship at Seaton Carew on August 5, 2024. The match featured dramatic shifts in momentum, culminating in Smith defeating Will Tate on the 37th hole after a hard-fought comeback by Tate forced extra play.
Smith, representing Essex’s The Rayleigh, took a commanding lead early in the day. Through the first 13 holes of the morning round, Smith surged ahead, going 7-up. His hot streak included a ten-foot birdie on the 4th, a birdie on the 7th after wedging close, and an electrifying eagle on the 9th hole by holing out from 91 yards. Despite a slip on the 10th, Smith recovered with birdies on the 12th and 13th to maintain a significant edge.
However, The Cavendish’s Will Tate was not to be easily dismissed. After Smith’s morning brilliance, Tate began his comeback, narrowing the gap bit by bit. He won the 2nd hole in the afternoon with a 30-foot birdie putt, took the 6th with a par and the 7th with a birdie, setting the stage for more drama. In an astonishing replay of his morning round, Smith holed out for eagle from 81 yards on the 9th hole in the afternoon, a feat he’s never previously accomplished.
“The way he came back was unbelievable,” Smith said after the match. “At lunch I knew he was going to come out fighting and I knew it’d be a good game in the afternoon, but I kept telling myself to stay patient and keep chalking the holes off but he just didn’t let up. I was like, ‘Is this guy ever going to go away?!’”
As the afternoon wore on, Tate’s relentless play brought him within striking distance, closing the lead to just one hole. He birdied the 11th and won both the 14th and the 17th, eventually sinking a six-foot birdie on the 18th to force the match into extra holes.
The decisive extra hole began with Tate hitting his tee shot out of bounds, which opened the door for Smith. Staying composed under pressure, Smith made the green in two shots, sealing his victory and the championship.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. With how the match started to the way Will played towards the end, it got very nervy, but I’m glad to be the English Amateur champion,” Smith expressed his relief and joy following his hard-fought win.
Reflecting on his two spectacular eagles, Smith shared, “I’d like to say I intentionally hit it down the rough line but I knew there was space over there. This morning I had 91 yards and somehow found the bottom of the cup, and then this afternoon I had 81 yards, and found the bottom of the cup again! It was quite a moment, and I’ve never had that before!”
Smith’s victory isn’t just a personal achievement; it bolsters his confidence as he heads to Scotland to represent England in the Women’s & Men’s Home Internationals. “I can’t wait to get there. It’s always a pleasure to represent your country. We’ve got a very strong team so I’m looking forward to seeing the guys,” Smith said, already focusing on his next challenge.
The 2024 English Amateur Championship at Seaton Carew has thus witnessed a display of skill, resilience, and dramatic golf, with Harley Smith’s name now etched in its storied history as the champion who held firm against a formidable opponent. Tate’s remarkable fight back and Smith’s clutch performance promise exciting futures for both golfers as they continue to elevate their games on bigger stages.
