Bolton edges Newmarket first past the post

Ray Bolton kept up an impressive year for Links (Newmarket) Golf Club when he reached the Golfplan Insurance Pro Captain Challenge Final in Turkey.

Bolton - a member of the Suffolk club for 46 years - partnered professional Richard Childerley for the Midlands qualifying event which was held at Northamptonshire County Golf Club.

And the duo edged home on countback in a tight finish ahead of Shane Rose and Iain Kerr, of Northamptonshire’s Cold Ashby Golf Club

Both clubs carded a five-under-par round of 65. But it was the Newmarket pairing who came out on top thanks to a back nine of 30 which included five birdies.

Links 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.

But it was a pairing that was not meant to happen. Head pro John Sharkey was meant to be playing.

However, he and his son Jonathan qualified for the final of the PGA Fourball Championship which means that Childerley stepped in.

And the win made sure it was a weekend of celebration for the club all round.

“It was Richard’s 27^th birthday the following day, so the win was an early present,” said Bolton, a retired district council director from Newmarket.

“The win was tremendous as it’s been a good year for the club with John and his son getting to the Fourball final.

“I’ve been a member here since 1969 and never played anywhere else. So it’s great to win something like this. I’ve never been to Turkey before so we’re both looking forward to it.”

Twelve handicapper Bolton admitted the win was hard earned.

“We were out quite early and seemed to get the worst of the weather, so we did well in spite of that,” he said.

Childerley is a qualified professional but still has an assistant’s role at Links.

“John is the head professional and would’ve been playing here instead,” he said.

“We were straight on the phone to him afterwards to tell him we’d won and were playing in Turkey.”