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I put my all into it and it's paid off

Background
Age: 32
Handicap: 8
Home club: Gorsty Hill, Cheshire
Occupation: Private Banker at Coutts
History: First time in the TT

What made you enter?
I heard about it through word of mouth on the golf circuit - it appealed to me because it's the only pro type competition out there without actually being a pro event.

When I entered I only had one intention in mind - and that was to win. And that's how I am with everything I do

Did you ever think you would get this far?
When I entered I only had one intention in mind - and that was to win. And that's how I am with everything I do. I always go out with the intention of winning. If I didn't focus on that as my main aim then I would not have bothered entering.

I didn't realise you only had to come in the top 12 to qualify or that there was even a playoff. Having said that I really enjoyed the playoff, it made the game a lot more interesting. But I definitely put my all into this and it's paid off!

Tell us about your day
I was knackered and found it very draining mentally. I had to play the 18th a few times followed by an intense shootout so it went on for quite a while. Finally at the end it felt like a weight had been lifted. The cameras didn't bother me at all - I'm not a nervous person. If anything it heightens the experience and makes me concentrate more.

How do you feel you played?
Well to be honest I didn't feel I played particularly well. I played a practice round the day before and felt I played terribly. My game on the day wasn't good but I scrambled. I got up and down a lot but I wasn't really driving the ball at all. The irons were ok but luckily my driving wasn't so bad that I couldn't get out of the positions that they put me in.

What would winning the Trilby Tour Championship mean to you?
Well I won the Volvo Matchplay earlier this year but the Trilby Tour will be a lot harder to win due to the the way its formatted, the pressure, the cameras and the amount of people playing. It would be brilliant to win though.

You're heading to the Bucks to face the best of the rest at the grand finals - how do you feel?
I'm quietly confident - but we'll just have to wait and see on the day.

I always aim to win - whatever I do I put my all into

Tell us about your background
I'm very sporty and competitive. I use to ride horses and compete when I was a teenager and was British Showjumping champion at 14. I play most sports but I'm self taught golf-wise - I've only had one or two lessons. I don't really practice. I know I should but I'm not a big fan of practising, I'd rather play in matches or competitions.

What's your motto in life?
I'm extremely competitive - I always aim to win. Simply taking part is not enough for me. Whatever I do I put my all into.

Self-taught golf champion James Voce congratulated on his win by William Hunt

See full results of the East of England Championship here

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