Godwin flies away with first PGA Kent Closed Championship
28/04/2015
Barnehurst-based PGA Professional Jordan Godwin shot a level-par round of 71 around Lydd Golf Club to claim the first PGA in Kent Closed Championship. Godwin celebrated his inaugural victory with a well-deserved winner’s cheque for £700.
The PGA Kent Closed Championship is an exciting new venture between The PGA in Kent and the Kent Golf Union aimed at strengthening the ties between Kent’s PGA Professionals and the county’s top amateurs. Lydd Golf Club is hosting the tournament for the first three years, and judging from the feedback of the players, the choice of venue has had a very positive impact.
Godwin’s 71 edged out runner up Robert Cameron’s (Sundridge Park) 72 who took home £500, while Alfie Plant’s 73 put him in pole position as the leading amateur by five strokes from Dan Smith on 78.
Played around Lydd Golf Club’s links-style course in windy but warm conditions, newly crowned champion Godwin commented: “I’d never played Lydd before, but I came away very impressed with the greens and the general condition of the course. The strong winds made course management trickier, compounded by water on around half the holes, but my ball striking was really good and I kept my ball flight under control despite the strong two to three club winds. The greens were fantastic, very true and amongst the best surfaces we’ll play this year.”
Starting at the 10th, Godwin got away to a good start with a birdie at the 11th and followed that up with six pars as he worked his way around the course he was playing for the first time. Another birdie at the 18th, his ninth, put him two-under-par at the turn and right in contention.
A three putt at the first was repaired with a birdie at the third, but two bogeys in succession at the sixth and seventh put Godwin back on level par and fighting hard to defend his position.
He explained: “I turned over a three-iron at the sixth and put my ball in the water, but holed a six-footer for a bogey. At the next hole I simply misjudged a short putt. But from the start I’d reckoned that level-par would be in the frame, and after grinding out two more pars to finish, my 71 proved to be right on the money.”
He continued: “Talking to players afterwards, I’d say that everyone was really impressed with Lydd Golf Club, especially the greens, so I’d like to thank the club on behalf of all the competitors, and we’re all looking forward to coming here again.”
Secretary of The PGA in Kent Sam Smith agreed with Kent Golf Union secretary Paul Loman when he said: “The PGA in Kent Closed Championship is really going to extend the ways in which we can make the relationship between both professional and amateur organisations and golfers, especially for those amateurs that want to pursue careers in golf, maybe even for some who are thinking about a future in The PGA.”
Chief Executive of Lydd Golf Club and the Lydd London Ashford Airport Charles Buchanan commented: “I am very excited about the tournament’s success and its potential for Lydd Golf Club. A tournament of this kind run by The PGA is a terrific way to raise the club’s profile, showcase the course to Kent’s premier golfers and let them see its true strengths for themselves. Clearly, this has proved to be the case.”
