A Toot Hill based golfer has grabbed a dramatic victory in a top international tournament.
Simon Khan, 31, from Toot Hill Golf Club, near Ongar, won the Wales Open Golf Tournament on Sunday after beating Ryder Cup hopeful Paul Casey in the second hole of a nail biting play off for the title.
The shock victory secured Khan a cheque for £250,000 and pushed him into 11th spot in the Volvo Order of Merit, just one place off a guaranteed inclusion in the European Ryder Cup team.
A delighted Khan said afterwards he had always believed he would make it big, "even when playing on the Mastercard Tour and staying in some not very nice bed and breakfasts.
Khan went into the tournament ranked 255th in the world but has now been rocketed into the top 150 golfers on the planet.
Khan, who has worked as a taxi-driver, pipe-fitter and roofer to support his golf during the tough times, was also assistant club-professional at Toot Hill Golf Club before devoting his time to the tour.
Friends, supporters and members of the Toot Hill club packed into the clubhouse on Sunday to cheer him to victory.
Club professional Mark Bishop said: "We were all delighted for him. He is the most likeable bloke in the world and I think now he has his first win under his belt he will go on to bigger and better things."
Published Thursday June 10, 2004
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