Great Scott – dark horse Drummond ends five-year victory famine

14/07/2021

Scott Drummond played the role of dark horse to perfection to win the PGA South West’s second Order of Merit event of the season, the Cumberwell Park Players Championship.

Drummond, who represents Max Golf Protein, began the second half of the 36-hole tournament at the Wiltshire venue on level par, four shots adrift of Sion Bebb, the first-round leader

Compounding Drummond’s chances of claiming the £1,500 first prize was the presence of 13 other members of the 144-strong field plus Bebb in front of him.

While his rivals trod water or foundered, however, Drummond flourished. So much so that none could match his bogey-free eight-under-par round of 63 that featured six birdies and an eagle.

St Mellons Golf Club’s Toby Hunt came closest with a total of seven-under, so close in fact that he was inches away from forcing a play-off when a 12-foot putt for a birdie on the last evaded the hole.

All of which was a turn-up for the books for Drummond (above) who said: “I was quite surprised to win. I thought the number was going to be lower than minus eight.

“I had a steady day yesterday but didn’t really get anything going. I knew I needed a low one today and thankfully got it.”

Reflecting on his round, he added: “I just kept giving myself chances. The course is very soft which is different to how it usually plays here at Cumberwell.

“I kept putting myself in position off the tee to give me a chance to attack the flags. My putting was also pretty solid and that was the key for me.”

It all added up to Drummond’s first success in an Order of Merit after several years of trying.

“This was my first one so I’m delighted,” he said. “It’s been four or five seasons that I’ve been playing PGA events.

“I’ve secretly been wanting to win one, have been close a few times and had a lot of consistent finishes, so I’m delighted to get across the line.”

The victory has propelled Drummond up to second place in the Order of Merit, five points behind Corey Sheppard, who finished tied-fifth on four-under, and 16 ahead of Bradley Scott, the winner of the first event at the Point at Polzeath.

Leading scores: Scott Drummond (Max Golf Protein) 134 (-8); Toby Hunt (St Mellons Golf Club 135 (-7); Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre), Alister Balcombe (Weston Super Mare Golf Club) 137 (-5); Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge Golf Club), Matt Moseley (Tenby Golf Club), Corey Sheppard 138 (-4).

CLICK HERE for a full list of scores