Ford opens 2017 account at Kent Closed
05/04/2017
Matt Ford (CK Group) is the new PGA Kent Closed champion, winning a one hole play-off against Richard Wallis (Canterbury) after both players had shot five-under-par 67s* around Kings Hill Golf Club’s heathland challenge.
Out of a strong field of 84 competitors that enjoyed the ideal warm and sunny spring weather, 46 of Kent’s top PGA professionals played alongside 38 of Kent’s top amateurs, thus achieving one of event’s aims of developing the potential of the county’s young golfers, especially those considering a career in professional golf.
Both golfing high achievers with impressive track records in their own right, Ford and Wallis tied on five-under-par 67, and so a play-off was needed to determine the winner but as it turned out, only one hole was required.
Ford made a sublime up and down from the back of the 1st green for a birdie four to Wallis’s par five, so it was Ford who took home the £500 first prize and trophy, while Wallis was consoled with a cheque for £400 and a useful boost to his growing reputation as a golf coach that can walk the talk.
By the same token, Kent Golf Studio’s Paul Page delivered a four-under-par 68 to land third spot. The leading amateur was George Young from West Malling, who despite a double bogey six at the second hole, still shot an excellent three-under-par 69 to edge out the 68 of his nearest rival Samuel Steadman from Chart Hills.
With a fantastic amateur prize table laid on by Taylor Made and their Performance Centre at Kings Hill, Young and Steadman took away Taylor Made M2 Driver and a TP Putter respectively. Littlestone’s Jack Holland won a Taylor Made Tour Bag as the third placed amateur.
Delighted with the day’s results, The PGA in Kent’s Secretary Sam Smith was speaking afterwards, commenting: “This event is going from strength to strength. By working closely with the Kent Golf Union and with the elite and budding young amateur golfers, we’re all helping to raise standards across the board. It’s very encouraging, and it’s fantastic to see Kent’s PGA Professionals and amateurs competing directly against each other”
He added: “The PGA Kent Closed Championship attracted the most representative field of the county’s finest golfers, amateur and professional. We’re all highly appreciative of the generosity of the King’s Hill Golf Club’s owners to give us their course for the day, and let us put on what proved to be a spectacular show of county golf.”
