Harrison hits the high note

Jack Harrison (Wildwood) provided more evidence of his low scoring ability, winning the West Surrey Pro-Am with a superb five-under-par 66.

Harrison managed to birdie the last hole to push Southern star Richard Wallis (Walmer & Kingsdown) into second place, and snatch the £1,000 winner’s cheque for himself.

He got away to a great start with birdies at the second, third and sixth. Despite bogeying the seventh, Harrison bounced back with a birdie at the eighth and an eagle at the ninth to be out in five-under-par.

Right in the groove, Harrison bogeyed just one hole on West Surrey’s trickier back nine. His birdie on the 18th secured victory from a hard charging Wallis who had birdied the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th to reach five-under-par before bogeying the 17th.

“I took a rescue club off the tee at the 18th,” Harrison said, “aiming to use it again for my second to the green as I’m pretty accurate with it. Instead, I nailed the drive and needed just a four iron and two putts.”

Although he didn’t manage a podium finish, Benn Barham got a hole in one, an event which enhanced another successful West Surrey Pro-Am event that raised more money for the Captain’s charities, the Holy Cross Hospital in Halsemere and Country Mice, a local charity supporting terminally ill patients in need of additional 'end of life' care.

Harrison’s delighted with the way things are going in 2013, as he explained: “I made a lot of progress last year, and I’m aiming to achieve the same again this year. Shooting 65 at the Drift in the second round of the PGA Southern Open Championship proved to myself that I could produce hot scores, but it’s all about being able to keep the other rounds above average as well.”

Harrison continued: “Today my course management was pretty much spot on, as was my putting, but I’m working very hard on all parts of my game to achieve the kind of consistency that leads to wins.

“I’m really happy with the way I’m playing,” he said, “but it’s even better to be competing in lots of events against the best players in the strongest region. My goal is to try and make a top five or top ten placing in this year’s Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit where I’m currently fourth, and a top three spot would be massive.”