Brandon Hobley is hoping to sign off a positive season with a strong show in this weekend’s Norfolk Match Play Championships at Bawburgh Golf Club.
He has impressed in Norfolk’s first team in 2025 and also took top spot in the county’s Order of Merit series – the leading players from which have qualified to tee up at Bawburgh on Saturday and Sunday.
It will be home soil for Bawburgh member Hobley, who has drawn Sprowston Manor golfer Dan Palmer in the first round.
Hobley, 28, said: “Just knowing which holes to be aggressive and which holes to be defensive should be a good advantage. Match play can be a funny game, but good course management helps the cause.”
Hobley has challenged himself throughout the year – his first as a full-time golfer.
Born and raised in Madeira and a dual British-Portuguese national, he has played against professionals – as well as fellow amateurs – on tier 2 of the Clutch Tour. He has also teed up in the Portuguese National Championship, as well as other highly-competitive amateur events.
Hobley assessed: “I’ve exposed my game to loads of different environments and tried to perfect it around the various great players I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the golf course with. This alone has made me a better player.”
He also points to assistance from Norfolk-based Legends Tour professional Andrew Marshall – and PGA pros Nic Cains and Alex Piccolo, both of whom have served Norfolk County Golf Union in 2025.
Hobley said: “I’d like to thank Marshy, Nic and Alex for helping me out with short game, pitching and club fitting. I wouldn’t have progressed as a player without them.”
Hobley will need all his skills to progress deep in this weekend’s 16-strong tournament at Bawburgh. A host of county golfers – including last year’s scratch Match Play winner Mathew Strudwick – are set to line up.
Defending champion Strudwick will get the action underway at 8a.m on Saturday when he takes on Norfolk second-teamer Tom Mathers.
Running parallel with the scratch action is the handicap Match Play Championship in which the competition is sure to prove just as fierce.
This year’s County Handicap champion Charlie Green and James Martin – who topped the Order of Merit handicap standings – are both in the field.
