Hot Raitt burns bright in Arizona sun

Andy Raitt carded a final round 67 to win the 19th Arizona Classic Pro-Am in Scottsdale.

The St George’s Hill pro beat Rob McGuirk (Prince’s) and Jason Kelly (PGA of France) who tied second after four exciting rounds over the Desert Highlands, Las Sendas, Grayhawk and We-Ko-Pa courses.

Raitt compiled scores of 69, 70, 70 and 67 for a ten-under-par total of 276 while one of the highlights of the week came at the seventh at Las Sendas where Tandridge’s Luke Bangerter had a hole-in-one.

Former winner Simon Lilly (Wellingborough) set the early pace with a first round 68 at Desert Highlands Golf Club while Bearwood Lake’s Martin Woodbridge also moved into contention with an excellent 67 at Las Sendas on day two.

McGuirk sparkled at Grayhawk with a 67 on day three but Raitt’s closing 67 proved decisive to give him a second Pro-Am Tour win of the season.

In the team event McGuirk’s team (pictured below left to right) of Alan Kennedy, Malcolm Wager, McGuirk and Stephen Parkhouse secured victory with Kelly’s team second and Woodbridge’s team were third.

In addition Challenge Days were played at Troon North and TPC Scottsdale (the host course for the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open) which were won by Craig Cowper and Sam Jarman respectively.

The Pro-Am Tour, organised by The American Golf Holiday, also includes The California Classic Pro-Am, The Scottsdale Classic Pro-Am, The Las Vegas Classic Pro-Am, The Hilton Head Classic Pro-Am, The Sawgrass Classic Pro-Am, and The Pro-Am Tour at Pebble Beach.

Further information is available at www.pro-amtour.com or contact John Hooper at Tel. 023 8046 5885