Derby Day for Cowper

Epsom-based PGA stalwart Craig Cowper (Horton Park) carded a five-under-par 65 to win a rain-soaked Epsom Pro-Am.

Despite dropping a stroke at the 17^th, Cowper’s performance was still good enough to snatch victory by a stroke from Regional Captain Guy Shoesmith (West Hill), Guy Woodman (East Berks) and Alan Lovelace (Merrist Wood), and take one the winner’s cheque for £1,100.

Cowper, a full-time teaching pro, was thrilled to come back after an early start, 18 holes spent in the rain and wind, and enough time for two more coaching lessons in the afternoon at Horton Park, and find that his score had put him in first place.

“I can’t say I’m practicing hard,” Cowper said, “it was more a case of trying to warm up before going out, but I got away to a cracking start, increased the momentum, and held on. I’ve never putted so well around Epsom either. The course was in great nick, and the rain helped slow the pace of the greens and make them a bit more straightforward.”

Starting with a birdie at the dangerous opening hole, Cowper had a couple of birdie putts lip out before birdying the sixth and eighth to be out in three-under.

He then birdied the 10^th, and then eagled the 11^th needing just a 2-iron, a 6-iron and ‘a nice long putt!’ to stretch his lead into potentially unassailable territory.

From the 12^th to the 16^th Cowper’s approaches gave him four more birdie opportunities, all from 10 foot and under, but this time the putts weren’t dropping.

He took three to get down in par just off the front of the green at the par five 15^th, followed by his tee shot to the short 17^th bouncing through the green into tricky rough, forcing Cowper into a bogey.

A solid par on the 18^th left Cowper plenty of time to deal with two lessons back at nearby Horton Park, as he reflected on his performance.

“It’s a very well run event and I’m really pleased to win.” he said, “I haven’t been playing well recently so it’s good to get some form back as I’m playing in all the Virgin Atlantic Order of Merit events, even though I’m doing a lot of teaching now.”

Cowper’s looking forward to the mid-July opening of a major development at Horton Park, a new adventure putting park that combines crazy golf-style putting with all sorts of animal characters, an innovation aimed at attracting children and their parents to golf.

"We’re going to be even busier from mid-July onwards, but this win shows me I can still perform against the best in the region.”