Ellis reigns supreme

Ian Ellis of Costessey Park, who has been one of Norfolk’s leading players over the past decade, completed 36 holes at The Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club at Broxbourne in 11 under par without dropping a shot. 

Ellis won the PGA (East) Head Professionals’ Championship with a round of six under par 64 to earn a prize of £1000 and beat Jason Levermore, the newly-appointed head professional at Channels Golf Club, by a single shot.

In the pro-am the following day Ellis held off the challenge of Simon Lilly, from Wellingborough in the Midland region, by a single shot with a round of five under par 65.

In the head professionals’ championship Darren Charlton of Dunstable Downs took third place with a four under par 66 that included five birdies.

Robin Turley (Aldwickbury Park) and Luke Eggleston (Loughton) tied in fourth place at one under par. Ben Kerr of West Suffolk Golf Centre, last year’s winner when the event was staged at Harpenden, had to settle for sixth place at level par.

Jason Groat of Denver Golf Club at Downham Market had two of the five eagles recorded on the day, all at par five holes. The others came from John Clarke (Berkhamsted), Stephen Hunter (Redbourn) and Levermore.

In the pro-am Mark Baker (Colchester) shared third place with Daniel Coughlan of Wyke Green at two under par.

Levermore, Hadley Wood assistant Thomas Phillips, Paul Hetherington of Great Hadham Golf and Country Club and Lee Curling from Grims Dyke were all level par.

Mark Stokes of Rayleigh Golf Range and his amateurs won the team prize with 19 under par 121. This beat the amateurs with Ellis by one shot and was six shots better than Chris Cutchie of Colchester and his team in third place.