Coles delivers again in the East

Robert Coles (Maylands Gof & Country Club) confirmed his supremacy in the East by winning the Order of Merit for the second successive year.

But unlike in 2016 when he triumphed in the final event of the year to edge to the top by just a handful of points, his latest Order of Merit crown was secured in much more emphatic fashion.

Coles, 45, produced two top-six performances in June to move to the summit and he was never toppled.

Indeed, the former European Tour campaigner had the Order of Merit race all but sewn up when he clinched the third event – the East Region Championship – by a shot. Coles conjured up a six-under-par 65 in the second round at Bishop’s Stortford, helping him to surge to victory.

That left the Essex ace with a healthy cushion ahead of the final tournament, the East Anglian Open at The Rayleigh Club. Again, he produced second-day fireworks, shooting a course record-equalling 64 (seven-under-par). That lifted him into a share of fourth spot.

An overall points tally of 645 left him almost a hundred clear of second-placed Stuart Brown (Thorpe Wood) with a further 80 back to Glen Portelli (Old Fold Manor) in third position.

Coles’ successful defence of his Order of Merit salver capped a fine year as he was also a lynchpin member of Great Britain and Ireland’s triumphant PGA Cup team at Foxhills Club and Resort.

Regional secretary Gordon Campbell said: “Rob has had another excellent season, playing some outstanding golf. He was once again a worthy winner of the Order of Merit race. He also proved a great ambassador for the East with his excellent performance in the PGA Cup where he was leading point scorer.”

Brown (pictured below) was also very consistent and – like Coles – his year included a win in an Order of Merit event. He emerged victorious from a four-man play-off at Bentley, eventually shaking off Chase Davis (Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel) at the seventh extra hole.

Evergreen Steve Cipa (South Essex Golf Centre) demonstrated he is still a force to be reckoned with, claiming a one-shot success in the London Open at West Essex. Cipa, 57, showed great skill to ‘up and down’ it at the final hole for a winning birdie.

The East Anglian Open, won by several famous names over the decades, was landed by Lloyd Kennedy (Woolston Manor). He ran away with the latest renewal of the prestigious event, finishing at 11-under – four clear.

Campbell continued: “Stuart Brown was a model of consistency and deserved his victory at Bentley – as well as his second place on the Order of Merit. Steve Cipa has long been one of the best professionals in the region and it was great to see him back in the winner’s circle. Lloyd Kennedy has only competed in the region for the past two years but has impressed many people, not least with his win at The Rayleigh Club.”

Several young PGA trainees shone during the 2017 season. Nathan Day, 20, was tied-third – as was fellow trainee Craig Housden (Little Channels Golf Centre) in the East Region Championship, while Nick Cains, 23, was tied-fourth in the East Anglian Open.

But the leading trainee, albeit a 42-year-old one, was David Salisbury (Elsenham Golf & Leisure). He completed his PGA Foundation degree in 2017 and also won the Marston’s Beer East Trainees Championship as well as finishing as the region’s top trainee from runner-up Housden.

Campbell added: “One of the most pleasing – and encouraging – aspects of 2017 was the emergence of so many good young players. Their talent can only bode well for the standard of golf in the region in the future.”