“Crazy round” Langdon on a roll

Ross Langdon completed the three most exciting and profitable days of his golfing life by shooting a career-low nine-under-par 62 to win the Minchinhampton Old Course pro-am.    

“It was a crazy round of golf,” said the 28-year-old Gloucester professional who moved from Gloucester Golf Club to coach at Brickhampton Court in January.

The former Gloucestershire county colleague of double European Tour winner Chris Wood added: “I made birdies everywhere and everything I tried worked a treat. This is the best run I have experienced as a pro.”

The previous day he finished tied second in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship qualifier at Burnham and Berrow. This followed the Gloucester and Somerset PGA Championship at Mendip Spring where he clinched the Order of Merit after seven wins during the winter season.

Ten birdies, one dropped shot on the seventh and halves of 32 and 30 brought an early clubhouse lead that was never likely to be threatened. But it was not a record as David Dixon (Enmore Park) beat the previous mark set by Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) in 2003 and Liam Bond (St Pierre) in 2012.

Eventually at the end of a 13-hour day of almost unbroken sunshine in the club’s 25^th consecutive pro-am he claimed a four-shot advantage over late starter Adam Frayne (Yelverton) whose faultless round contained five birdies.

Cheltenham’s Russ Berry, now representing Ingon Manor near Stratford-on-Avon, who was joint second with Langdon in the PGA at Burnham, and Danny Lee (Rushmore), each made six birdies to claim third on 67.

Nick Haile and Stuart Little from Minchinhampton New Golf Club and Welshmen Matt Dearden (Cardiff) and Alun Lynch shared fifth on 68.

Nathan Broocks, assistant at South Cerney, led the Rover European Travel team of Dale Heskins, Chris Beavis and Geoff Fox to a 20-under-par return of 122 to take the team award.

Langdon’s team of sponsor Pete Hudd, Steve Biddell and Barry Wilder were second on 124 beating Clevedon’s Ashley Mansell’s trio of sponsor Mark Anderson, Ian Freebury and Dave Funnel on countback.

Chloe Rogers (Celtic Manor), the former England hockey international who played in two Olympics, continued her impressive start to the season by taking the women’s prize on one-over-par 72.

She finished three ahead of Jamie-Lee Casling (Cotswold Hills) and Tracy Loveys (Bigbury). She also won the team section with the Lady President’s Carpet Hotline trio of Dawn Williams, Katherine Nash and Margo Petkovic.