Summary: Ben Stow is a professional golfer from England known for his consistent performance and ability to stay cool under pressure. He has had success on the European Challenge Tour and continues to improve with each tournament.
1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Ben Stow was born in England in 1992 and grew up playing golf from a young age. He attended the University of Kentucky where he played on the varsity golf team. During his time there, he won the prestigious Gary Koch Invitational tournament and helped lead his team to several tournament wins. Stow also gained valuable experience playing in top amateur events such as the British Amateur Championship, where he made it to the quarterfinals, and the English Amateur Championship.
After graduating from college, Stow turned professional and began playing on the EuroPro Tour in 2015. He quickly found success, finishing in the top 10 in four out of his first five tournaments.
Stow’s success on the EuroPro Tour led to an invite to the European Challenge Tour, which serves as a stepping stone to the main European Tour. He earned his full card for the 2016 season by finishing in a tie for 18th at the end-of-season Challenge Tour Grand Final.
2. Rise to Prominence on the Challenge Tour
During his rookie season on the Challenge Tour, Stow made a name for himself with his consistent play and clutch performances under pressure. He finished in the top 10 in eight out of 23 tournaments, including a tie for second at the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open. Stow finished fifth on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit, earning himself a spot on the European Tour for the following season.
Stow continued to improve during his second season on the Challenge Tour, winning the Swedish Challenge and finishing in the top 10 six times. He ended the season ranked 11th on the Order of Merit, narrowly missing out on a spot in the top 10 which would have earned him automatic promotion to the European Tour.
Despite this setback, Stow remained focused and determined to earn his spot on the European Tour. He played in several European Tour events as a sponsor’s invite during the 2018 season and performed well enough to secure his card for the following year.
3. Strengths and Weaknesses
One of Stow’s biggest strengths is his mental toughness and ability to stay calm under pressure. He has shown time and time again that he is capable of making clutch shots and sinking big putts when it matters most. This is a crucial trait for any professional golfer, as tournaments are often won or lost by just one or two strokes.
Stow’s game is built around accuracy and consistency rather than power. He is not one of the longest hitters on the tour, but he makes up for it with his ability to hit fairways and greens consistently. This allows him to avoid costly mistakes and put himself in positions to make birdies.
However, one area where Stow could improve is his putting. While he is a solid putter overall, he has struggled at times with shorter putts and has missed some key opportunities to save pars or make birdies. If he can improve his putting consistency, he could become even more of a threat on the European Tour.
4. Goals and Aspirations
Like any professional golfer, Stow’s ultimate goal is to win a major championship. He has yet to compete in a major, but he has shown in his career so far that he has the talent and mental toughness to succeed at the highest level.
Stow also has his sights set on earning a spot on the European Ryder Cup team. While this is a lofty goal, he has shown that he can compete with some of the best golfers in Europe and would relish the opportunity to represent his country on one of golf’s biggest stages.
In the short term, Stow’s main focus is on continuing to improve and compete at the highest level possible. He knows that there are no guarantees in professional golf, and that he will need to stay committed, work hard, and take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way if he wants to achieve his goals.
Conclusion:
Ben Stow is a rising star in the world of professional golf, known for his consistent play and mental toughness under pressure. He has had success on the EuroPro Tour, the European Challenge Tour, and is now competing on the European Tour. While he still has room to improve certain aspects of his game, Stow has shown that he has the talent and drive to achieve his goals and become one of the top golfers in Europe.
As he continues to mature as a golfer and gain more experience at the highest levels of the game, it will be exciting to see what he is capable of accomplishing in the future.