Cool hand Luke lands first Order of Merit title

Luke Goddard conjured a superlative round to power to a five-stroke victory at Three Rivers Golf & Country Club.

The Hendon professional followed an opening 67 with a ten-under-par 62 to win his first ever Order of Merit tournament title.

Goddard started his second day with a chip-in eagle at the first hole and never looked back, leapfrogging overnight leader Harry Casey with a barrage of birdies – nine in total.

It was a simply stunning performance by the former Walker Cup golfer, who closed out at 15-under-par.

Goddard, 34, said: “I’m just pleased with the way my head was, to be honest. Even after the last hole on the first day when I made a double bogey it didn’t really affect me. I just came out for the second day, eagled the first and pulled it straight back.

“I tried to say to myself, ‘Just commit. Wherever you are, just commit to your shot and whatever will be, will be’. It’s easier said than done. I don’t normally do that but it was good.”

Goddard’s scoring blitz was a sight to behold as he set up chance after chance with peerless iron play.

PHOTO CAPTION : Hendon GC professional Luke Goddard on his way to victory at Three Rivers Golf & Country Club.

And when adversity did rear its head in the form of a solitary bogey at the 15th – cutting his lead to two – he refused to let it unsettle him.

At the 180-yard 16th Goddard unleashed a majestic 8-iron that sat down six inches from the hole. He followed that by draining a 20-foot putt for birdie at the next before closing out with a solid up and down for par at the last. It really was a case of cool hand Luke.

Casey (The Shire London) was the only other player in the field who got anywhere close to contending down the stretch. He recorded fine scores of 65 and 69 to reach 10-under – a total that’s normally enough to get the job done.

But like the rest he was left marvelling at Goddard’s feats. “It was a fantastic round by Luke,” was the runner-up’s generous appraisal.

Glen Portelli produced a gutsy display to take third spot at five-under, while John Bradford (Crondon Park) and Andrew Pestell (The Swing Warehouse) were a stroke back in a tie for fourth.

The third of the four Order of Merit tournaments will be the £20,000 East Anglian Open at Ingrebourne Links on August 2-3.

Leading the way in the overall race to finish top of the PGA in England (East) Order of Merit is Casey on 440 points. Goddard is second on 410, just ahead of Chase Davis (Eaton) and Michael Vandenberg (Rochford Hundred).

PHOTO CAPTION : Luke Goddard savours the moment after signing for a 62 and securing his first Order of Merit title.

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