Golfer Steven feels the heat in one-armed golf contest

CUP SUCCESS: Steven Hutchinson

A BARNARD CASTLE golfer has defeated the heat to help Europe take victory in the one-armed equivalent of the Ryder Cup.
Steven Hutchinson was one of only five European golfers to win their singles match in the last day of the Fightmaster Cup, which was staged at Indian Wells, in California last month.
This follows his success in the biennial competition at Sterling, in Scotland, two years ago.
The former military skier, who lost the use of his right arm in a motorbike accident, admitted the heat was one of the greatest challenges of the tournament.
He said: “I think the Americans had us playing in the desert to gain an advantage because we certainly are not used to that heat.”
He was accompanied on the tour by his wife Dawn, who acted as his caddy.
He added: “She found it great apart from the heat. Normally, she likes the heat so when she complains, it is really hot.”
Also a strain was the pace of the game and despite using buggies, it took six hours and ten minutes for the golfer to reach the 17th tee on the final day.
He should have had the match sealed on the 16th but his opponent forced him to another hole, a short par three of about 130 metres.
He said: “I left mine short. I heard his caddy advise him to take an extra club but he pulled it and it went into the water.”
Mr Hutchinson chipped up to about eight feet from the hole while his opponent dropped and popped his next shot about six feet away.
Despite missing the hole by about an inch, Mr Hutchinson took the hole when the American missed his putt.
It proved to be an important hole for the Europeans who had only a one point lead going into the final day.
The European team went on to win the cup by 15 points to 13.