Josh Bristow bowed out of the Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale on Friday afternoon but was justly proud of his overall performance.

Canterbury Golf Club's Bristow was making his debut in what is arguably the greatest amateur event in the world. The championship had an elite starting field of 160.

On Friday morning the Canterbury club champion swept aside Scotland’s Darren Howie (3 up) to cruise into the last 16 of a championship, whose past winners include Bobby Jones, Sergio Garcia and José María Olazábal.

But in the afternoon he came up against a red-hot opponent in Hallamshire GC’s Barclay Brown and was beaten 6&5.

Fresh from a top ten finish at the Brabazon Trophy, the English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, the week before, Josh beat the cut by two shots on Wednesday to reach the match play stages and easily saw off Italy's Riccardo Leo by 3&2 in the last 64 round on Thursday.

And he was as realistic about his eventual defeat as he was full of thanks for his home support, saying: "Barclay Brown just played brilliantly. He didn't drop a shot and honestly didn't miss a shot.

"It’s the first time I’ve been in the event and I'm proud of my achievements. I would have loved to have won but when you play someone on good form you have to put your hands up and say 'well done’.

"Can I also just thank the Canterbury members for the support I constantly receive. It makes playing well in these events just that bit sweeter and I’m proud to be member of a great club.

"I know I've got more to give and I look forward to when I get that big win. I played pretty solid all week but I never got many putts to drop which was the real difference."

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