The Open: Alfie Plant keen to build on silver medal
Last Updated: 23/07/17 4:18pm
Alfie Plant hopes his silver medal from The Open can be the stepping stone to greater things.
The 25-year-old from Bexleyheath finished as the leading amateur at Royal Birkdale after all his rivals for the prize failed to make the cut.
Plant fired a one-under 69 on Saturday and then ended the tournament with a three-over 73 to finish on six-over 286.
Previous winners of the silver medal include Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, but there have also been others who have failed to make their mark in the professional game.
Plant, the European amateur champion, plans to turn professional in the autumn and is keen to build on his performance this week.
He said: "It's obviously a step for me. I've got a great team around me, so I'm sure they'll advise me to go down the right path.
"But one week out of my life this year, which has been great, just got to keep improving, keep going forward and hopefully I make the right decisions along the way.
"I'll be turning pro in September. Hopefully, I'm going to be picked for the Walker Cup in September and try out for Tour school after that."
A number of the professionals playing at Royal Birkdale this week have been younger than Plant but he does not feel he is too old to make the switch at 25.
"I don't think there is any timeframe out there," he said. "You have to go when you're ready and go when you've got some good results behind you.
"But 25, you know, we've taken our time. I've enjoyed the journey along the way. And I think it's definitely going to be a good journey going forward, hundred per cent."
Plant did not make the best start to his final round with a double bogey at the second hole and he carded two more bogeys and only one birdie before receiving a terrific ovation down the 18th.
"It's been absolutely amazing. It sent shivers down my spine walking up the last," he added.
"High of the week has definitely got to be walking down the last. I think every golfer says that. That's one of the best walks in golf. And it certainly is.
"The low of the week, the double out there today wasn't that fun. There hasn't been really any lows. I've been on such a high all week, and I've absolutely loved every minute of it."
