Godwin hits the high notes at Woodcote Park

Barnehurst’s Jordan Godwin shot a three-under-par 69 that included four birdies, one eagle and that rarest of things, an albatross, on his way to winning the Woodcote Park Pro-Am.

First out on the course, the big hitter from Kent made the most of the fine sunny weather that blessed the day before a thunderstorm blew through later on, and earned himself a handy £800 for his winning performance.

Despite stumbling with a bogey at the penultimate hole, Godwin had done enough to keep Kingswood’s Ian Golding’s card of 70 in second spot. Tied for third were the trio of Paul Sherman (Langley Park), James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) and Michael Lowe (Leatherhead).

Opening with a par, Godwin didn’t have long to wait before the fireworks started, holing his second shot at the par-five second hole. Suitably inspired, he proceeded to birdie the next two holes to reach five-under-par for just the first four holes.

Things crashed a bit with a bogey and a double bogey at the fifth and seventh, but a birdie at the ninth got him back to three-under. Another bogey at the 10^th was repaired by a remarkable eagle on the par four 11^th to reach four-under, and despite two more bogeys offset by one more birdie on the way home, Godwin’s up and down round of 69 still managed to finish in pole position.

Godwin was delighted with his first win of the 2016 season, remarking: “Apart from a good performance in the PGA Kent Closed Championship where I finished second, my golf’s been a bit inconsistent so far this year – and I think my score today definitely reflected that!

“Woodcote Park was in terrific condition, and while I may have paid the price for going for everything, the course is always set up to be very challenging so winning here is a great boost, and an inspiration to keep grinding away!”