Groves gives masterclass at Puttenham

Hampshire’s Elliot Groves shot the only sub-par score to win the windswept Puttenham Pro-Am and walk away with the winner’s cheque of £725.

His two-under-par performance of 69 put him two shots ahead of the two runners up, Robert Daw (Effingham) and five time Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit champion, Richard Wallis (Canterbury), both on level par.

A happy Groves said: “It was so windy: at least a three club one channelling and swirling through the trees for good measure. Puttenham’s narrow and tree lined, so I just played conservative, kept it low and in play using my two iron, and made a couple of good putts towards the end for a good card. I did a degree at Oklahoma City University, one the windiest places in the world, so I’ve got some useful experience of these kind of conditions!”

After a couple of wins back in May, Groves is enjoying a return to top form in September with his third win in a month. Besides the Puttenham and the Cams Hall Pro-Ams, Groves also successfully defended the PGA South Assistants & Trainees Match Play championship title as well.

In a shotgun start from the 18th, Groves was soon on the birdie trail at the first and third. Two bogeys and another birdie got him to one-under at the turn, but a dropped shot at the 10th put him back to level par. Determined to make a score, he birdied the 15th and 17th to set a score that the rest of the field couldn’t match.

Pipped to the post in the individual event, Daw led his amateurs to a well earned victory in the team event with a total of -14.