Friday the 13th proves lucky for Harris
16/06/2014
Shooting an unmatched four-under-par 66 to win the Sand Martins Pro-Am, Jamie Harris (Nevill) showed yet again why he is one of the most consistent players in the South.
On a course where course management and accurate tee shots are essential, Harris edged out the 67s of Nico Els (Clandon Regis) and Andy Raitt (St. George’s Hill) to walk away with the winner’s cheque for £1,000.
Harris’s consistency was further underlined by his making 14 top ten finishes out of 19 starts, and the victory at Sand Martins means he’s now notched up five wins so far in a season that’s still some way to go.
Harris is clearly enjoying his current run of form, commenting: “I’m playing nicely and the short game’s getting better, but the weather to date has meant that while the courses we’re playing are in fantastic condition, the rough everywhere is simply penal. Getting out of shape means you’re severely punished.
“Nonetheless, I managed to keep my ball in business and enjoyed a good run around Sand Martins. I even got a few putts in on their beautiful greens, so here’s hoping I can find this sort of form for the busy few months ahead!”
Els and Raitt both found the front nine a bumpy ride, with Els making four birdies, one bogey and a double bogey to be one-under-par by the turn, while Raitt’s three birdies were unfortunately matched by three bogeys to leave him on level-par at the turn.
Harris on the other hand was four-under-par after the seventh, and while he dropped one shot at the eighth, he reached the turn in three-under.
Else fared much better on the back nine with a birdie at the 14th and an eagle at the 16th, but one more cruel bogey at the final hole left him back on three-under. Raitt got into top gear and made three birdies at the 13th, 15th and 18th to share second spot with Els on 67.
Harris started the back nine with a bogey at the 10th, but a smooth run of pars got him to the 16th where he made an eagle, and two more safe pars left him at the top of the leaderboard for his fifth victory in 2014.
