Happy O’Hanlon’s winning birdie at Cotswold Hills
07/06/2016
Richard O'Hanlon shrugged off a back problem to win the Cotswold Hills Pro-Am by one shot in brilliant sunshine.
The Cornwall-based Midlander, head pro at St Kew, returned from a trip to America two weeks ago suffering from severe back spasms. He made an impressive return to action after a ten day rest.
He required his eighth birdie on the last for victory and punched the air with delight after calmly slotting in a 25-foot putt,
He said: “I didn’t even pick up a club for ten days after playing in the Total Triumph at Oake Manor and the enforced break has obviously worked for me.”
He was out in the best-of-the-day four-under 32, despite a bogey six at the fifth. He returned in level par to post a winning 68.
James Ruth (China Fleet) looked odds-on favourite to snatch a win as he stood on the final tee at five-under-par, despite taking seven at the fifth when he found the heavy rough off the tee.
He could afford to drop one shot but instead made his second double-bogey of an otherwise exemplary round when another off-line drive proved costly. This meant he featured in a four-way tie for second on 69.
Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) was the long-time leader in the record field of 45 to an event sponsored by Adey Professional Heating Systems and well organised by club manager Rob Ovens and secretary Richard Mobley.
Both he and Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court) made four birdies and dropped one shot. Kevin Harper (East Devon) shed three shots but an eagle at the 13th and four birdies proved vital.
Three teams tied at the top on 128 and were separated on countback. Langdon led the winning Valuations UK team of Ryan Gaskins, John Slim and Will Slim. Lilley Brook’s Matt Evans helped Tom Rutherford, Martin Yarde and Mat Stanford, the former Walker Cup player and ex-professional now playing off a handicap of one, into second place.
Former Cotswold Hills assistant Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) returned to pilot the Neil Gaylor and Co trio featuring Gaylor, Jos Edwards and Owen Smith into third.
