Howard and Newman share Saffron Walden victory
03/08/2015
George Howard (Brampton Park) produced an inspired finish to tie at the top of the Saffron Walden Pro-Am alongside Ryan Newman.
Howard, who started at the 10th, was one-over-par after playing nine holes. But he started his homeward loop with a birdie three and then made an eagle at the 546-yard sixth.
And Howard signed off by picking up another stroke at his final hole – another par-five – to finish with a three-under-par 69.
That was the same score posted earlier in the day by Newman, who also started from the 10th. He opened up with an eagle – an omen that it was going to be his day.
Newman was two-under at the turn and gained another stroke with a birdie at the sixth – his 15th. That shot was given back to the course at the testing par-three seventh but he showed his mettle with a birdie at his 17th.
Newman and Howard ended up a shot clear of Andrew George (Ely City), Neil Mitchell (Bury Golf Range) and Glen Portelli (Verulam). Mitchell was six-under with four holes to play but carded bogies either side of a double bogey at the 16th to fall back.
The winning team was led by Murray White (Centurion). Amateur Tom Duggan was the key man as the quartet finished on a -16 tally of 128, one clear.
