Cheetham gets a break at last!

Jonathan Cheetham coolly rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the PGA North £20,930 Energy Service Group pro-am at Humberside club
Cottingham.

“It had an 18-inch break and I judged it perfectly," said the 46-year-old Manchester-based professional after signing off with a 71 to tag to his first round 68, five-under-par all told.

Having led by a shot overnight, he kept the same margin between himself and joint second Adrian Ambler, from Low Laithes, and Snainton Golf Centre's John Wells.

And Cheetham, whose £5,000 winning cheque was the second biggest of his career, revealed he owed his success to a change of putter.

"I'd lost my touch on the greens recently so I dug out an old Ping Anser I'd kept in a cupboard and cut down the shaft. That did the trick. I only missed three realistic chances over the two days," he said.   

The former Leeds Cup and Manchester Open winner used the club for the first time when he cleared the Open Championship regional qualifying hurdle at Mere last Monday.

"It's helped to restore my confidence. I've struggled over the last four years and I needed to start working on my game because I'm aiming to join
the Senior Tour when I'm 50," he added.

Meanwhile, he was heading to Gullane on Monday for the final shoot-out tomorrow for a place at Muirfield - nine years after he last qualified for the Open at Royal Troon.