Cort proves the best in the west
21/04/2016
Leicestershire’s Matthew Cort survived a late wobble to win the 54-hole £20,000 PGA in England and Wales (South West) Cornish Festival by a stroke.
Cort, who finished sixth last year and fourth on his debut, began the third and final round one shot ahead of new European Tour player Laurie Canter.
The 41-year-old from Beedles Lake was playing the testing St Enodoc links while Canter was tackling Trevose across the Camel estuary.
And when he made two bogeys in the final three holes after a steady two-under 33 on the front nine he feared the worst. But an impressive par round of 69 proved to be just enough.
He said: “I hit quality shots all day but I always have trouble at the 16th. It’s a tough finish there and I didn’t think I had done enough for I imagined Laurie would be at least a couple under at Trevose and move past me.
“I managed to hang on in better conditions than the previous days as there was not so much wind.
“The only slight disappointment was that Laurie’s team finished one point ahead of us. But my lads enjoyed it and it was good to come to Cornwall and play decent courses on pretty firm greens – better than in the soggy Midlands.”
Cort, who earned £2,500 for winning the pro’s strokeplay tournament and a further £450 for finishing second in the team competition, finished on eight-under-par 204 from rounds of 65 at Trevose, 70 at Carlyon Bay and 69 at St Enodoc.
The win, following earlier success in a pro-am in La Manga, has set him up for what promises to be a special season.
Cort, PGA Assistants’ Champion a record three times and winner of the Midlands Order of Merit for the last three years, finished second in the PGA Play-Offs in Turkey in November.
As a result, he qualified to play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next month. He will also compete in the British Masters at The Grove in October, three Challenge Tour events and on the EuroPro Tour.
Canter, 26, from Cumberwell Park, shot level par 71 on a far more benign Trevose course than previously.
An opening 65 at Carlyon followed by 69 at St Enodoc left him on 205.
Former winner and Ryder Cup player Peter Baker shot 67 for the best round of the week at Trevose as 13 players equalled or bettered par.
Canter, who finished third last year, recovered from a slow start and lost shots at the fifth and 12th but successive birdie threes at the 14th and 15th brought him level.
His consolation was winning the team section for the second year with the same trio of Andy Carter (Letchworth, off nine), Shane Rowe (Cumberwell Park, eight) and Johnny Grace (Bath, scratch).
Cort led Brendan Delaney, Jamie Simpson and Dean Brigg into second.
Bournemouth’s Danny Lee, teaching professional at Rushmore for almost six years, showed his class by finishing third. His three-under 69 at Carlyon Bay with four birdies held off better-known players as he finished at five-under 207 after earlier scores of 67 and 71.
Andrew Jones (Marriott Forest of Arden) carded 68 at Carlyon to share fourth on 209 with PGA champion and PGA Cup player Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) who came on with 66 as the last man on the course.
Defending champion Paul Broadhurst (Northants County) put up a stern defence to take sixth as the only other player to finish under par on 210 after a final 72 at Trevose.
Chris Gane (Left Handed Golf at Silvermere) was seventh on 212 while Rhys Enoch (Celtic Manor) and Scott Drummond shared eighth a further shot back. Last year’s runner up Phillip Price and Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) competed the top ten on 214.
James Whatley (Morley Hayes Golf) boosted his final score with an ace at the 15th at St Enodoc.
Tournament director Tom Sheffield felt the festival was one of the best ever. He said: “It’s been a good week, thanks to the tireless efforts of all The PGA staff at all three courses. Carlyon Bay made an impressive debut as a host and we are grateful for the many compliments made by the players.”
