Amateur's red hot putter has pro purring

A teenage amateur who only got his first handicap a year ago had his PGA pro partner marvelling in admiration as he sank eight single putts on the back nine of the Ryder Cup course to lead the Lombard Trophy at Gleneagles.

Will Hunt’s red hot putter helped yield seven birdies in eight holes as he and Saunton’s Albert MacKenzie stormed to the top of the leader board at five-under-par in the 36-hole tournament which carries a first prize of £12,000 for the winning pro.

The duo’s 67 gives them a one stroke advantage over former champion Martyn Thompson and Darren Budd from Parkstone, Ian Walley and Ian Neal from Kedleston Park and Paul Simpson and Richard Muldoon from West Berkshire who carded 68s.

MacKenzie and Hunt's playing partners Brian Cosgrove and John Meleady from Killeen Golf Club in Ireland were six under through the turn but had to settle for a 69 to share fifth with Chris Smith and Kane Mayes (Fynn Valley), Chris Crowder and Ronald Singleton (Lee Park) and Tim Stevens and Keith Cornish (Shirland).

MacKenzie (above left) likened his 19-year-old partner's prowess with the short stick to two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw but at one stage the pair were heading the wrong way on the leader board when they both double bogeyed the eighth to go to one over.

“I had birdies at nine and 10 that probably galvanised the round but Will has holed four putts in the last six holes from over 12 feet,” said MacKenzie.

“His putting is quite unbelievable for someone who genuinely plays off a 16 handicap. It is quite extraordinary. Give him a line and he is just threatening the hole from all over the green. I think in the last six or seven holes he’s made five nett birdies. I was a bit part player today.”

Hunt from Barnstaple admitted to being intimidated when he teed off but warmed to his task in blustery conditions on the PGA Centenary Course with a putting master class that combatants in next year's showdown between Europe and the United States would be proud of.

He only took up golf after returning from a round the world trip to Australia and south east Asia but is relishing the opportunity the sport has given him, especially playing in a national final.

“When you are playing with a pro who knows where it is going to break it certainly helps. Putting makes up for the other areas in my game," he said

“It has been an unbelievable experience to come here and sample Gleneagles since I haven’t played golf outside of Devon. The only downside is having to share a room with my dad!”

Parkstone pro Thompson (pictured below, right) sitting a shot back, was pleased with a 68 having leaked three bogeys on the front nine. "It was tricky. Bogeys were very easy to come by. We knew if we could hang on to the coat tails of Kedleston we would be doing okay because they played well. They were three under through the turn and we were level.

“But Darren made two good net birdies on 12 and 13 and I birdied 14 and got a little bit of a run and I’ve birdied the last and suddenly we’ve come back four-under-par.

“It’s nerve-wracking, there’s a bit of money at stake, you’re trying to look after your game, and your amateur’s game, because you need them. I’ve been here before and it’s nice to get into this situation again.”

Thompson’s partner Budd, (above left) from Poole in Dorset revelled in the occasion especially teeing off at the first.

“I love all that, the people watching and having your name announced, it is a great feeling. It’s the closest I’m going to get to professional golf so it was special.”

Walley, who has a second PGA national final to look forward to with partner Ian Neal later in the year when they compete in the PGA Pro-Captain Challenge in Turkey, declared himself happy with a 68 which included four birdies on the front nine.

“I only had a couple of birdies and my captain threw in a couple – he had a great birdie on the first but it was tough out there to get it close.

“Four under is a nice start, my captain played well, I can’t complain he’s doing the business.”

West Berkshire amateur Richard Muldoon, a nine handicapper, has only played three times since qualifying so was delighted to be in contention having had little chance to practise in the build-up.

“My boss went on holiday for three weeks so it’s been 60 hour weeks with no time to practise and then I went on holiday for two weeks but I managed a game last Thursday when I borrowed some clubs just to hit a ball and remember what it was like.”

His partner, former Glenmuir champion Paul Simpson, added: “We didn’t hit the ball great but we dovetailed well. It was a good course – it was fair. We didn’t hole much and got away with a couple and made a birdie out of the rubbish so that was nice especially after starting with a bogey.”