Double joy for Rob

Rob Coles (Maylands Golf @ Country Club) struck at the double – bagging the East Anglian Open @ The Rayleigh Club and the 2016 Order of Merit title.

The former European Tour star, 44, put together two high-class rounds at the Essex venue to win by three shots from Chase Davis (Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel).

Coles’ win lifted him from third to first on the Weston Homes-sponsored Order of Merit as he narrowly edged out long-time leader Ian Campbell (Cheshunt Park).

Essex’s James Webber (Three Rivers Golf & Country Club) finished third in the overall standings and – like Coles and Campbell – will head to next month’s PGA Play-Offs showdown at Saunton where the elite professionals from all seven PGA regions will assemble.

But the final Order of Merit in the East was all about Coles, who led at the end of the first day thanks to a four-under 67. The Essex ace built on that in the second round, smoothly reaching eight-under-par with three to play.

However, at the par-4 16th he suffered his only serious setback over the two days, making a double bogey from the back of the green. That halved his lead from four to two before he settled the nerves with a fine birdie at the short 17th.

Coles easily negotiated the final hole to sign off with a seven-under-par total, leaving him as the top player in the PGA in England (East) for 2016.

Coles said: “It’s brilliant. I’d have been chuffed with top-three, so I’m absolutely delighted to win it and follow really good names on the salver.

“It’s been really nice to play with everyone this year – it has just been really good and I’ve enjoyed it a lot. The Order of Merit events have been great.”

Coles said his year started slowly after he was frustrated by an ankle injury. But he finished in the top-six of all four of the Order of Merit events he played, culminating with his East Anglian Open @ The Rayleigh Club triumph.

Coles said: “You have a few misses and you start remembering them, so I was glad to get over the line here. I played really good on the first day tee-to-green and didn’t putt as well. But I putted better on the second day, so I’m grateful for that and I’m delighted to win.”

There was a strong Norfolk presence on the final leaderboard at The Rayleigh Club with Davis runner-up in an Order of Merit event for the second time in 2016. He was a shot ahead of fellow county men Ian Ellis (Great Yarmouth & Caister) and Alex Beckett (Peter Field Golf Shop), who tied for third with Lloyd Kennedy (Woolston Manor) and James Taverner (Hendon).

Davis, a career-best fourth in the Order of Merit, said: “I’m very pleased. I stayed patient and played nicely over the two days. It has been a pleasing year.”

Gordon Campbell, regional secretary of the PGA in England (East), said: “There has been some great golf played in the region in 2016 – it has been a very enjoyable season.

“Many congratulations to Rob Coles for his achievements. I would also like to thank our sponsors and host venues for their fantastic support of the PGA in England (East) in 2016.”