Ethan Akpan of Letchworth GC – Mens Herts Salver Winner 2026

Ethan Akpan of Letchworth retained his Mens Herts Salver title last weekend, becoming the 1st player to ever do so in the long standing event in the County Mens calendar. 

The event is played as an 18 hole qualifier for the Mens County Championship event, for those who missed out on direct entry to the main Championship by virtue of ballot by Handicap Index on the closing date for entries. This year that ballot on +0.7 for direct entry and 2.6 for entry into the Herts Salver. 

The competitors on the day were competing for 17 spaces in the County Championship field. 

The event is kindly sponsored by the Society of Herts Golf Captains, and as such is always played at the home club of the Captain of the Society in that year. This year the honour is bestowed to Doug Barson and the event was played at his club of Welwyn Garden City GC, the first time the event has been played there since 2002. 

Akpan, who won the Salver last year on his home course, tied for the best score on 70 level par with playing partner John Ambridge of Moor Park, a 3 time County Champion no less. John missed a short putt on the last green for a 69 -1 but settled for the tie. A sudden death play off ensued to determine our winner which was played on the tricky par 3 18 hole, with a pin position at the very back of the green. Both players missed the green with their tee shots, Ethan long left of the green, not far from the out of bounds, and John in the left bunker. Ethan played an excellent chip shot to within 10 feet and calmly holed the left to right putt to take the win after John had failed to get up and down from the bunker. 

The qualifying score fell on a card countback on 74 +4. 

Our thanks to Welwyn Garden City GC for hosting and to the Society of Herts Golf Captains for their continued support. 

We now look forward to the County Championship events taking place at Ashridge GC at the end of the month. 

The 2027 Mens Herts Salver will be played at Aldwickbury Park GC as Eric Diment, former Society Secretary, will be Captain. The main County Championships next year will be played at Brickendon Grange GC for the 1st time.