Close finale in King’s Lynn pro-am

Matthew Gardner and Ryan Pudney (above) shared the honours after signing for level-par rounds of 72 in the Norfolk PGA pro-am at King’s Lynn.

Although it was dry with occasional spells of sunshine the King’s Lynn course provided a severe test of the players’ abilities. Pudney (Mundesley) and Gardner (Barnham Brook) had to be at their best as they battled through a tense finish on their way to a shared victory.

Mark Allen of Eaton was third, one shot off the pace. Andy Cotton, a Suffolk raider attached to Ufford Park, took fourth place with 74.

Jason Groat (Denver Golf Centre), Alex Beckett (Barnham Broom) and Mike Jubb (Sheringham) were joint fifth with 75.

Gardner also claimed further honours, going on to secure the trainees’ prize.

Cotton brought home the winning team of Roger Nicholson, Gary Ward and Andy George with 12 under par 132. Runners-up were David Woolley (Middleton Hall) with Adam Lemarne, Darryl Hazelhurst-Jeavon and Craig Hazelhurst-Jeavon with 136.

The third-placed team was Neil Mitchell (Bury Golf Range) with Hamish Fleming, Dave Wyatt and Paul Izzard with 139 on count back from Pudney, Phil Pegg, Warren Smith and Terry Davies.

After 12 events Ian Ellis (Costessey Park) is leader of the Norfolk PGA order of merit with 57 points. Michael Few (Weston Park) is runner-up with 46. Ellis and Few are already exempt from having to qualify for next year’s East Region order of merit events.

This leaves Pudney (41 points) and Groat (37 points) battling it out for third place and the one available exemption spot at Thetford on December 5 in the final Norfolk PGA pro-am of the year.