Ablett finds top gear again at Knole Park

James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) showed he’s still in top form, running off with the Knole Park Pro-Am, supported by the Porsche Centre Tonbridge, after shooting a four-under-par 66 around the tight Sevenoaks course.

Two days before, Ablett was leading the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit tournament at Frilford Heath after his first round of three-under-par, but he couldn’t maintain the momentum in the second round. Coming to Knole Park a day later, Ablett showed his top form once again on the challenging heathland course.

Even so, it was a rollercoaster ride for Ablett, but despite three bogeys he made five birdies and an eagle to leave a strong field of well-known names behind, and claim the £650 top prize.

Two strokes behind, James Jones (Tonbridge Golf Centre) also shot five birdies mixed with three bogeys on his way to his 68 for second spot and £500. Sharing third place were Ally Mellor (Hype Sports Management) and regular winner Chris Gane (LethandedGolf@Silvermere) on 69.

Starting at the third hole, Ablett birdied the fourth but the fireworks started with an eagle at the par-five ninth to get to three-under-par. He then went on something of a rollercoaster run, with a deuce at the 10^th, followed by a bogey on the 11^th and another deuce at the 12^th.

A par at the 13^th was foiled by a bogey on the next hole, but Ablett found top gear again to birdie the 15^th and 17^th to reach five-under-par. With two holes left, Ablett then bogeyed the first and finished with a 66, more than enough to see off the following pack.

As the course’s designers were the great JF Abercrombie and James Braid, the bogeys and birdies of the leading players come as no surprise. Worth a mention since he equalled the winner’s five birdies and an eagle, Lea Cooper (Burgess Hill Golf Academy) wiped out all the good work with five bogeys and an uncharacteristically high score on the par-four 11^th, proving that nearly 100 years on, the likes of Abercrombie and Braid can still set a stiff challenge to top golfers.