Boyle is Hottest Assistant in Surrey

Stuart Boyle (Wentworth) made a spectacular eagle at the final hole to win The SuperStroke PGA in Surrey Assistants’ Championship with a two round total of two-under-par 142.

Playing in only his third event this year and for the first time at Farnham GC, Boyle’s final hole eagle snatched the Championship from Robert Daw (Milford) who finished on 143, with Ben Daniels (Horton Park) third on 144.

Boyle’s winning performance earned him a cheque for £555 courtesy of the tournament’s sponsor, SuperStroke Grips, and the young Wentworth PGA assistant also took home the message that he’ll be playing a lot more competitive events from now on.

Boyle’s focus has been on finishing his PGA qualification this year, and working hard has meant playing a lot less competitive golf than he did as an amateur. Working in Sardinia for three weeks prior to the Championship meant he’d played virtually no golf prior to arriving at Farnham, but Boyle also had to overcome three other challenges: playing the course for the first time, playing with a new set of clubs for only the second time, and double bogeying the 16^th in the second round when he was in the lead.

Spurred on by his winning the SuperStroke event, Boyle’s rediscovering his passion for the game, as he commented: “I’ve only played in the Powerade PGA Assistants PQ earlier this year at Laleham, where I was well off my game, and the TopGolf event, a target golf competition at the Addlestone range back in March. Not exactly what you’d call practicing hard and playing plenty of golf to keep my game in tune!

“Farnham is one of those courses you need to know to get the right idea in terms of course management, and my first round 73 reflected that. Having just become an Adams ambassador, I’ve also had very little time to familiarise myself with my new clubs, but the last shot of the day made up for all of that.

“It was very hot, and staying focused was pretty challenging, which helps explain my double bogey six at the 16^th after getting bunkered. But I’d made five birdies up to that point, with just the one slip for a bogey at the seventh, so despite the 16^th I was still in contention on the last tee if I could make a birdie or better. Making that eagle was unbelievable!”

Brand Fusion MD and chairman of the BGIA Nigel Freemantle was on hand to present the prizes after play. Brand Fusion are distributors for SuperStroke Grips and Sun Mountain Bags & Trolleys amongst other lines, and have supported PGA Pros in Surrey financially through their tournaments this year, based on the level of sales by PGA Pros in the county.

Freemantle added: “PGA Pros in Surrey have long supported our brands and to give a little support back to them is the least we can do.”