Addington duo share poignant home victory

Addington Golf Club recorded a bittersweet victory to reach the Golfplan Insurance Pro Captain Challenge Final in Turkey.

Captain Ravi Patel partnered club professional James Marshall for the qualifying event held on their own Surrey course.

But the victory was tinged with sadness as ex-finalist Glenn McMahon, below, who played in the final of this event four years ago with Marshall, died two months ago after battling a brain tumour.

Marshall and Patel carded a five under par round of 64 to tie with Jonathan Barnes and Peter Fletcher of Lee on the Solent Golf Club in Hampshire.

But it was the Addington pair who won on countback after making four birdies on the back nine.

They will now play in the £25,000 showpiece final to be held at the PGA Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club in Turkey between November 25-26.

Marshall admitted it was a special victory after the death of his former Westerham Golf Club captain.

“Sadly Glenn passed away a couple months ago,” said Marshall.

“I’m sure he’d have been looking down and be very pleased that we won and got back to the final.”

Marshall admitted that he was making a habit of leaving it late to seal victory.

He also qualified for this year’s PGA National Pro-am Final when he finished in the last group and won it.

But he did the same thing at Addington to add a second final appearance of the year to his calendar.

“It was very close at the end, but that’s the way it seems to have been going this year,” he said.

Patel, aged 64 and a retired marketing consultant, added that Marshall almost did not make it.

“James had a thigh injury and might not have played,” said the 15 handicapper from Norbury who has been a member at Addington for 10 years.

“But he had some treatment and said he’d be fit. I’m glad he was as he seems to be making a habit of winning.

“I was in good hands.”