Kidney failure can’t stop Richardson

A Rye Golf Club member climbed off his hospital bed to win the 67th Sussex Open Championship.
Ed Richardson, from Rye Golf Club, with the trophy for winning the Sussex Open ChampionshipEd Richardson, from Rye Golf Club, with the trophy for winning the Sussex Open Championship
Ed Richardson, from Rye Golf Club, with the trophy for winning the Sussex Open Championship

Leading amateur Ed Richardson beat the professionals at Highwoods Golf Club in Bexhill despite being hospitalised with kidney failure in the days leading up to the event.

He said: “I’d been in hospital for the four days before the tournament started, so it was good to even be able to get out there and play.”

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Richardson followed a one-over-par first round 71 with a superb five-under 65 to win the 36-hole event by two shots.

He continued: “The first day was more about not making many mistakes and remaining in contention for the title on the second day. I knew that I could win it, and I thought another night’s recovery would be beneficial.”

The former England elite squad member has enjoyed a great deal of success around the globe in a number of prestigious tournaments and played in the Hong Kong Open - co-sanctioned European Tour/Asian Tour event - last year.

Richardson went on: “Although I’m an amateur, I’ve played in a great deal of pro-tournaments, and I’m the current Hong Kong Amateur Champion.”

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The 45-year-old Ewhurst Green resident has battled with illness for much of his recent golfing career, taking three years out of the game between 2008 and 2011.

He said: “I was out of the game for a while which was difficult. But it’s good to be winning, as the conditions were perfect out there, and the greens were fantastic.”

The Sussex Open champion’s season doesn’t end here, though, as he plans to make his next appearance on the fairways across the Atlantic. “I’m supposed to be going to the United States next week, but it’s not a definite due to my recent hospital stay,” he added.