Johnson retains Berkhamsted Trophy

England international Luke Johnson has become only the second player to successfully defend the Berkhamsted Trophy.

The 22 year old from Kings Lynn retained the trophy in difficult conditions at the Hertfordshire course with 36-hole total of level par, which gave him a one-shot win over a group of three other players. He opened with a two-over par 73 and was four shots off the halfway pace, set in by Simon Richardson of Spalding, who had a hole-in-one with his first shot of the competition and followed up with 17 straight pars.

However, in the afternoon Johnson shot a two-under par 69, while Richardson slipped back with 74, finishing on one-over, alongside Taylor Carter (Rochford Hundred) and David Corben (Hindhead).

Johnson, a member of the England Golf men’s squad, won in a play-off last year, having been eliminated in another play-off in 2013. The last time the trophy was won in successive years was 1978-79 when John Davies of Royal Mid Surrey did the double.