FORMER WALES No.1 badminton player Phillip Sutton found it fourth time lucky at the Welsh Seniors Championship, as he finally lifted the title after three runner-up finishes.
Sutton, a former badminton pro whose highest world ranking was 11, used his sporting experience – as well as lessons learned from those second places – to close out the event in wet and windy conditions at Aberdovey Golf Club.
There was a three-way tie for second with Royal Jersey's Phil Evans coming through the field with a 71, four better than any other player in the final day to join Craig Buttivant and Michael Calvert.
"After the disappointment of being runner-up three times, this is absolutely fantastic – it makes all the previous heartache seem worth it to learn and to come through in those conditions," said 62-year-old Sutton, from Ebbw Vale, who played at West Monmouthshire as a junior.
"On one occasion someone putted well, on another they hit some great shots, but the third time last year I made some mental mistakes that cost me dearly.
"But you put those things that happened in the memory bank, so I was patient on the back nine in particular and did not beat myself up for dropping shots."
