Hambling seals impressive Stock Brook victory
12/08/2013
Steven Hambling shot a round of five-under-par 67 to win the Virgin Atlantic Golf Classic Pro-Am at Stock Brook Country Club.
The Braintree Golf Club assistant had four birdies, dropped one shot, but produced an eagle at the 474-yard par-five final hole to stay one shot ahead of runner-up James Ruebotham of Welwyn Garden City.
Hambling said: “It was a good finish. I put my drive into the bunker on the left of the fairway, but managed to play a seven-iron out of the sand to within eight feet and sunk the putt.
“It made all the difference as I won by a single shot!”
Ruebotham, who was runner-up up the Berkhamsted Trophy in his amateur days and has played many times in the PGA Europro Tour, had four birdies, an eagle at the 476-yard 10th and two dropped shots.
Third place was taken by Ben Cooper of Bishop’s Stortford who had bogey at the first but then had four birdies in an otherwise unblemished round.
Three players shared fourth place at two under par. They were James Webber (Three Rivers), Andrew Robinson (Stowmarket) and Rob Leonard (Harpenden Common). Eight more signed for one-under-par on a day of impressive scoring.
They were Steve Cipa (South Essex Golf Centre), Rhys Piper (Hartswood), Mark Hooper (Rayleigh Golf Range), Jason Levermore (Channels), Brett Taylor (Brett Taylor Golf), Matthew Cousens (Bushey Golf and CC), Crue Elliott (Sandy Lodge) and Daniel Coughlan (Wyke Green).
Two of the six eagles recorded came from Craig Laurence, the English Amateur champion in 1983, who is now director of golf at Stock Brook Country Club.
Hooper, clear leader of the Virgin Atlantic PGA in England (East) Order of Merit, brought home the winning team of Arthur Leonard, Josh Hickling and Mick Tomlinson with 13-under-par 131.
Runners-up on count back with 133 were Cipa, Colin Downton, James Shade and John Shade. Third place went to Hambling, Brian Day, Jenny Day and Mick Parmenter.
