Copsey claims Mid Kent victory

DCGS Poult Wood’s David Copsey won his first pro-am title of 2016, with a fine five-under-par 65 to take the £1,000 winner’s cheque at the Mid Kent Pro-Am.

Runners up David Callaway (Foxhills) and Adam Clough (PGolfCoaching@Pedham) pushed Copsey hard all the way, each shooting four-under-par cards of 66 for cheques of £750.

Copsey started by dropping a shot on the tough par three opening hole, and despite repairing the damage at the third with a birdie, another bogey on the fifth left him with a lot to do.

He then charged through the next three holes making birdies at each to reach the turn in two-under 33.

Two more birdies followed at the 11^th and 12^th and then another at the 15^th to put him out in front on five-under-par, but another dropped shot at the 16^th threatened to undo all the good work. Copsey dug deep and delivered one more birdie at the 17^th to restore his score and he finished on five-under.

Callaway’s round was even more dramatic. After making one solitary birdie on the front nine and eight pars, Callaway went on the attack.

While his birdie on the 11^th was offset by a bogey at the next hole, he birdied the next three to reach four-under. A bogey at the 16^th was rapidly repaired with a birdie at the 17^th and he finished with a 66.

Clough meanwhile went out in three-under, got to four-under after the 12^th, but dropped a shot on the short 13^th. A birdie at the 15^th set things up for a heroic finish, but the putts weren’t dropping and he too finished with a 66 to tie with Callaway.

Copsey was delighted, saying: “Mid Kent was in fantastic condition and as usual the pin positions were set up to make the day even more interesting than usual!  My game’s not really been consistent enough this year, but winning here and making a lot of birdies has been a terrific boost to my confidence, so I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.”