Ablett takes route 66 to London win
22/09/2017
Lee-on-the-Solent’s James Ablett shot a steady six-under-par 66 around the Heritage course to win The London Golf Club Heritage Pro-Am, sponsored by Westerham Financial Services.
Taking home the winner’s cheque for £800, to date Ablett’s notched up 10 wins this season to lead The PGA in England (South) Money List by a whisker from Canterbury’s Richard Wallis. ProAgenda.com’s Guy Woodman lies in third spot just ahead of St. George’s Hill’s Andy Raitt.
Ablett commented: “The conditions were nearly ideal, not too much wind, and the Heritage course in fantastic condition as usual. It’s always nice when you find that groove that lets you focus on making birdies, and I made the most of the opportunities that came my way today.”
Starting on the 10th, Ablett was four-under after his opening nine, and two more birdies came on the second and third. He bounced straight back from his only bogey on the sixth with a deuce on the seventh, and two more pars put him at the top of the leader board.
PGA Cup star Raitt and Romsey’s Elliott Groves both shot five-under-par 67s, but while Groves made five birdies, Raitt had a game of two very different halves. Starting on the 9th, he dropped two shots on his two opening holes and then fired off no less than six birdies in a row from the 12th to the 17th to reach four-under with nine to go.
Things then rapidly cooled down with five pars and a bogey on the fifth, but Raitt’s eagle on his final hole pushed him back into contention to tie for the second spot with Groves.
In the team event, Pentland Golf’s Benn Barham led his amateurs to top spot by a winning margin of five shots in front of Tilgate Forest’s Lea Cooper and his sponsors team from Westerham Financial Services.
