Gilligan ends season on a high note

Gary Gilligan (Lingfield Park) shot a five-under-par 67 to win the Bletchingley Pro-Am, finishing four strokes in front of the trio of the only other players to break par: Richard Wallis (Canterbury), Dan Scourfield (Bicester) and James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent).

Picking up his winner’s cheque for £700, Gilligan commented: “I haven’t played a lot of events this year as I’ve been focusing on building up my teaching business at Lingfield Park. I’ve had a good run of results over the last two months with two seconds and a third, so it’s great to close the season with a win and the sort of round that really boosts my confidence.”

On a day when the weather conditions were challenging, Gilligan made five birdies and an eagle. Starting on the 17th, he opened with a deuce and then birdied the third and fifth, eagled the sixth and birdied the ninth to be on five-under.

Another birdie on the 11th was offset by a dropped shot at the next hole, but pars all the way home left Gilligan comfortably in front on 67.

Scourfield made the long trip from Bicester worthwhile, leading his amateurs to a one stroke victory in the team event and edging Thomas Muchmore’s group into runners up spot.