Gane pips Woodman to PGA Farnham Finale crown
04/10/2019
Chris Gane (Left Handed Golf at Silvermere) won the Virgin Atlantic PGA Farnham Finale, shooting 71, 65 and 70 over two days at Farnham for a total of 10-under-par 206.
Tied after 54 holes and playing with Guy Woodman (ProAgenda.com) in the final rounds, Gane made a 25 foot putt at the first extra hole to stay in the game but it took five more holes before Gane clinched the title with a birdie.
Their fireworks pushed the 8-under-par totals of both Christopher McDonnell (Golf at Goodwood) and Joe Simpson (West Berks) into third spot.
Despite missing the cut, Paul Nessling (Cooden Beach) secured the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit for 2019 edging Jordan Godwin (Barnehurst) to the title, while Woodman crept up to finish in third place ahead of Christopher Croucher (Cottesmore).
Taking home the £2,000 first prize, Gane had watched as Woodman forced a play-off with a spectacular three birdie finish. As he commented: “It was a nice day out with Guy who I’ve known for years, and Ben (Talbot) who I’d seen shoot the really low score at Q-school the other week. Scoring was trickier today – it was colder than the previous two rounds and the ball wasn’t flying very far.”
“Woody got off to a bad start, I had a dodgy middle and then he had that great finish which took us into extra holes – six of them! Playing the first and the 18th in a continual loop we matched each other with four birdies and a par, and then I birdied the second to win!”
As the third-placed player in the final Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit standings, Woodman was both consoled with a £1,250 cheque for the runners up spot and a place in the PGA Play Offs, and quietly pleased: “It was a couple of long days. I putted poorly today but managed to birdie the last three holes to force a play-off.”
Woodman then added: “If given the choice of the title or the PGA Play Offs, I’d settle for the latter, so I’m quietly pleased to have got it done and I’m really looking forward to Turkey in November!”
