Happy return for Cort

Matthew Cort won the Midlands Open for the second successive year at Birstall Golf Club by prevailing in a duel with another former junior member of the host venue.

Victory in the tournament, which was once again supported by longtime and loyal sponsors, the Mark Group, earned the Rothley Park golfer £1,500.

It also fired him from fifth to the top of the Order of Merit and, with one event in the five-tournament series remaining, on course to retain his status as PGA Midland No.1.

Cort carded an opening round of seven-under to open up a two stroke lead over a field that included former Ryder Cup stars Paul Broadhurst and Peter Baker.

But the 39-year-old found the going tougher on the second day and was pushed all the way by Michael Reed, his much younger rival.

Reed, who learned his golf at Birstall and now works for his brother Richard at nearby Glengorse Golf Club, negotiated the par 70 course on day one in four-under but looked out of contention after seven holes of the second round.

At that stage he was five strokes adrift of Cort but a birdie at the ninth thanks to a superb bunker escape coupled with the leader carding a bogey at the eighth set up a head-to-head over the back nine.

And, with Cort stuggling to sink putts and Reed making three more birdies, the former’s lead had been trimmed to one when he arrived at the final hole, the par five 18th.

Cort, however, held his nerve, reaching the green in two and then leaving his eagle putt inches away from the hole for a tap in and victory.

All of which meant a case of many happy returns for the 39-year-old who won the PGA Assistants’ Championship a record-breaking three times.

“This was my first club as a junior when I was 13 so it was great to come back see the members and play well,” he said.

“My season’s been steady so far but nothing spectacular. Hopefully this can push me on for the rest of the season.”

Reed, meanwhile, picked up £1,000 for his second place finish and Marriott Forest of Arden Golf Club’s Joe Smoothy earned £800 for finishing third after posting an eight-under-par round of 62, a course record.