Oxford Golf Club has hosted more than 150 professional players from 20 nations as part of the £50,000 Clutch Pro Tour series which will conclude in the United Arab Emirates this autumn.
A selection of the world’s best players travelled from as far as Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, China, Bermuda and the USA to participate in the Rapsodo Open, which was being held at the Cowley course for the first time.
Bath-based Josh Hilleard scooped the win with a 14-under par performance across the three days after shooting rounds of 66, 66 and 64. It marked Josh’s first Tier One triumph with the win lifting him into the world’s top 1,000 players from a previous ranking of 1,573.
It marks the second time Oxford Golf Club has held a Clutch Tour event and forms part of its plans to bring more elite level competitions to the city. Steve Greenwood, General Manager at Oxford Golf Club, said the three-day event was a huge success.
“We’re an ambitious team, with plans to develop areas of the club both on and off the course,” said Steve. “Part of our growth plan is bringing elite level competitions such as the Clutch Pro Tour to the city centre, and we’re delighted to have had the opportunity to showcase our challenging course to some of the world’s top players.
“We have a bumper programme of open competitions for members and guests between now and the end of the season, with competitions scheduled for the bank holiday weekend, September, October and November.
“Congratulations to Josh for winning the Oxford leg of the Clutch Pro Tour, we wish everyone attached to the competition every success as it reaches its climax in Al Hamra later this year.” The competition follows news that Oxford Golf Club has achieved its highest membership numbers for senior and junior players in recent times.
The club now has more than 750 regular players, up by 300 compared to a decade ago, with junior participation quadrupling since 2023. Founded in 1873, Oxford Golf Club was the original club of Oxford University and, to this day, features an 18-hole course designed by legendary golf architect Harry Colt.
