Callaway takes top prize at The Addington

David Callaway (Milford) shot a well managed one-under-par 68 to win The Addington Pro-Am and take home the winner’s cheque for £1,100.

Callaway’s performance edged out the 69s of Daniel Young (Woldingham) and Kieran Staunton (Woodcote Park), while The Addington demonstrated to the rest of the field that it still deserves a lot of respect. Playing on fiery fairways and fast greens, Callaway’s course management provided a firm foundation for a round that included two bogeys and a double bogey, but also an eagle and three birdies.

Callaway commented: “For the dry conditions the course was in top shape with greens that were holding if your shots were off the fairways, but they were also lightening quick with tricky pin placements, while the fairways were running a bit fiery. I was really pleased with the way I played. I didn’t use my driver once, preferring to keep my ball in play with my two-iron.”

Callaway made his first birdie at the short third with a five iron to one foot after his shot fed down to the flag at the back right of the green. He pulled his tee shot at the fifth and despite a good recovery, a three putt led to a double bogey six. A wedge to the seventh led to his next birdie, and he then negotiated the next three dangerous par fours to stay on level par.

Another fine wedge at the short 11^th made him another birdie two, and then at the par five 12^th Callaway laid up with a six-iron, avoiding the risk of running into the cross rough. He followed this with a superb two-iron to two foot for his eagle. Trying to feed the ball in to the short 13^th, his ball finished on the bank and a bogey was a good result.

Two-under-par on the 16^th tee, Callaway laid up with a four-iron and then a wedge, but his third shot to the par five from 70 yards left him 25 foot past the flag and an impossible putt, as he explained: “It was the hardest putt in golf! The hole was on a mound, and while my first putt lipped out, it finished eight feet away!”

Two solid pars at the short 17^th and awkward par four 18^th left Callaway in command with a 68. “This win is a great confidence boost for the PGA Surrey Open next week, and of course I’m really looking forward to playing in the PGA Cup at Slaley Hall where four of the region’s members are representing the GB&I side.”