Cool hand Newman strikes again
27/11/2013
Paul Newman slotted a 25-foot birdie putt from off the last green to dramatically claim the second Winter Series event at Wentworth East.
His one-under-par 67 swiped the top prize of £333 away from Grant Guerin (World of Golf), who scored a 68. Newman’s East Berkshire GC colleague Guy Woodman came third with a 69.
Just qualified, Newman also picked up the Titleist & FootJoy ball, glove and shoe contract as the Leading Assistant, setting him up very nicely for the 2014 season.
“It was a classic ‘game of two halves’,” the East Berkshire man commented. “From the 11th onwards bogeys were followed by birdies for six of the holes, with that 25 footer on the last coming after I’d dropped a shot on the short 17th!”
Very strong winds increased the challenge at the beautiful Colt-designed Wentworth East, but Newman played steady golf going out to be one-under-par at the turn.
“I was playing well, plotting my way round and coping with the wind, but the back nine had several holes that the wind made more difficult to reach,” he explained.
“Fortunately my putting was pretty hot and I had 28 putts thanks to holing the birdie opportunities that came my way.”
On the front nine that was the two birdies at the first and seventh, and then on the back nine, birdies followed bogeys on the 12th, 14th and 18th.
“I was very grateful to see that putt at the last go in,” he said. “It was long and downhill and I was trying to get close and save par rather than make a birdie. But it’s nice to win another event and it gives me a nice boost for the next season where I want to play in a lot more of the regional and Order of Merit events.”
The next Winter Series event is at North Foreland on November 27th.
