Former PGA Pro Remembered at Prince's

The PGA in England (South) summer schedule kicked off in style with the 2013 RIP It For Derek Pro-Am, which enjoyed yet another massive success in terms of monies raised and winning scores.

Played in honour of the late Derek Barbour, the Head PGA Professional at Prince's from 1998 to 2006, the funds go to help his children's education and to the British Heart Foundation.

Playing at his home course of Prince's, Warren Bennett played the best golf by far, cruising to a four stroke victory with a flawless five-under-par 67 to take the winner's cheque for £500 and the Derek Barbour Memorial Trophy. The trophy itself has been made by a Prince's member using Derek's old irons.

Former European Tour winner Bennett was a deserving winner, having been part of Derek Barbour's professional team at Prince's. Out in two-under-par with no dropped shots, he made three more birdies and kept a bogey-free card, revealing his tour calibre once again. Benn Barham (Kings Hill) and Michael Lowe (Leatherhead) managed five birdies a piece, but each had four bogeys, underlining the golfing challenge the Prince's championship links becomes on a windy day.

Ensuring the smooth running of the day, PGA Professional and Director of Golf, Rob McGuirk, was taken aback with the level of support for the event, as he explained. "We originally planned on fewer players and teams," he said, "but in fact 37 teams played and to accommodate all the teams we used all 27 holes and a shotgun start around Prince's. There were three sets of prizes for the different combinations of nines, and we still had to turn away quite a few applications."

He continued: "This day has helped raise a lot of money, along with two very generous sponsors in Watchfinder and Strokesaver who have been simply brilliant. Watchfinder donated several fabulous prizes, including a top notch Omega for the raffle.

"Events like the RIP It For Derek Pro-Am just go to show the strength of the PGA community when it asks people to support one of its own, and the benevolence it can provide; on behalf of The PGA in England (South) I'd like to say a very big thank you to the players, our sponsors, to Prince's itself, to all those who have supported this great local cause and made it such a stunning success."