Staff WriterThere’s a fine line between confidence and cockiness, and Forest of Arden’s Chris Augousti walked it perfectly this week—claiming the England Captains Grand Final title with a total of 75 points over two days at the iconic Woodhall Spa Golf Club.
Augousti, the proud Worcestershire golfer with a competitive streak sharper than a wedge on the Hotchkin’s 18th, fired 40 points on Wednesday thanks to six solid pars.
On Thursday, he backed it up with another steady performance—four pars and a birdie on the Bracken Course—to add 35 points and edge out Tydd St Giles’ Bryan Banham by a single point.
Whiteleaf’s Stuart Rivett claimed third place on countback with 70 points, while defending champion Peter Higgins (Radcliffe on Trent) narrowly missed out on a podium finish.
Reflecting on his victory, Augousti said: “Two rounds against some fierce competition – I couldn’t imagine this particular scenario, so it’s going to take a couple of days to sink in!
“I’m never entering a competition without thinking I’m going to win it. That’s always the aim. But after the first day and being within touching distance, and to play alongside two other potential winners, was very interesting!
“My aim for the second round was to just get around in 36 points. It was a course (Bracken) I hadn’t played before, so my attention was on that rather than the outcome, so I was just trying to figure out where to place the ball each hole!”
If that sounds like a man who thrives under pressure, you’d be right. Augousti might not have the swagger of a tour pro, but he’s clearly got the same focus—and a plan that paid off handsomely.
After clinching the win, he wasn’t heading for champagne or cigars, but something far better.
“I’ll have a celebratory meal with the wife tonight and one with the family at the weekend!” he revealed, with the grin of a man who knows he’s earned it.
The England Captains programme, designed for past and present club captains across the country, has become a community as much as a competition. And Augousti was quick to praise what makes it special.
“As Captains, we’ve all had to face being a figurehead of a club and that makes us a company of select people who have gone through the same process, so to celebrate with these competitions is fantastic.
“It’s basically a fellowship, you get to see the same faces year after year and it provides you with the potential to play courses you wouldn’t normally play, where you meet in that fantastic social environment.”
For Chris Augousti, the win at Woodhall Spa is more than a trophy—it’s a reminder that experience, patience, and a good attitude still count for something in golf.
And with that trademark grin, you can bet this won’t be his last headline.
To learn more about the England Captains programme, visit the official England Golf website.
