Callaway and Rice share Stoneham honours

David Callaway (Burhill) and Matt Rice (Purley Downs) fought out one of the most dramatic finishes of the season so far to tie the Stoneham Pro-Am, supported by Ridon Joinery and Lexus Hedge End.

The par carded five-under-par 67s to pocket winners’ cheques for £1,200 and edging out the 68s of Chris Gane (LeftHandedGolf@Silvermere) and local hero, European Tour regular, and course record holder Richard Bland who finished tied third.

“I’ve been close a few times this season, but winning at Stoneham is a massive boost for me with a lot more events coming up,” said Callaway.

Rice was in a similar mood, adding: “I’ve been in the frame a few times in 2016, so shooting that 67 to tie with David and take home £1,200 was awesome. Stoneham was in great shape, and conditions couldn’t have been better.”

Playing in the morning round, both Callaway and Gane could keep a close eye on each other’s scoring, as Callaway started in the group in front of Gane’s. Celebrating his new role with the prestigious Burhill Golf Club, Callaway’s thrilling back nine performance proved just enough to edge out Gane after 18 holes.

After a ding dong battle, Callaway made an uncharacteristic double bogey on the 16^th that left Gane in the lead.

But while Callaway made par at the 17^th, Gane then double bogeyed the same hole, putting Callaway back into a one shot lead. Callaway’s birdie at the final hole left Gane needing an eagle to tie, but he could only make a birdie to finish a stroke behind.

In the afternoon Rice and Bland made the running. Playing the course for the first time and opening with a bogey at the short 10^th, Rice then went birdie, eagle, par, eagle to reach four-under-par after five holes. Two more birdies at the second and third put him on six-under, only for Rice to bogey the next two holes.

Another birdie followed to get him back to five under and in a share of the lead, only to bogey the seventh. With two holes left Rice deuced the par three eighth, and a par at his final hole secured a tie.

Bland opened with an eagle and stayed at two-under-par until the 12^th where he charged through the next three holes with birdies. But on five-under with a real prospect of winning, a bogey at the 15^th ended his charge and pars home left him tied with Gane in the runners up spot.