Hunt keeps his cool in warming up for title defence
30/08/2024
Toby Hunt warmed up for the defence of his Asbri Welsh National PGA Championship title by winning the Carlsberg Marstons Woodbury Park Masters and extending his lead in the PGA South West’s Order of Merit.
In doing so, he produced the best round of the tournament, a bogey free six-under par to finish with a 10-under par total 0f 134 for his two negotiations of Woodbury Park’s Oaks Course.
Which, given a late challenge from PGA Trainee Ali Balcombe, was just as well.
Balcombe, who is attached to Weston Super Mare Golf Club, had begun the second round sharing the lead with Bigbury Golf Club’s Sam Edwards on five-under, a shot clear of Hunt.
His race looked run, however, when he trailed Hunt by three shots with as many holes to play but, having signed off with a trio of birdies in round one, he followed suit in round two.
Hunt also birdied the par-five 16th to arrive at the par-three 18th two shots clear but with Balcombe depositing his tee shot 10 feet from the hole and his landing six times that distance away, he needed to hold his nerve and draw on the talent that has made him one of the PGA’s most accomplished players.
In the event he was left with a tap in for par and, with Balcombe holing his birdie putt, the 31-year-old Welshman claimed victory with a shot to spare and win an Order of Merit event at the venue for the second year running.
“I won in a play-off last year,” he recalled. “I like the golf course and played well coming in today.
“I was under a bit of pressure from Ali who finished birdie, birdie, birdie again today but I didn’t know how close it was at that stage.
“I’ve purposely not been looking at the leaderboard in the last couple of events and trying to do something a little bit different.
“Touch wood it seems to be working but I kind of knew it was close because I was playing with him and he finished strongly yesterday, so I was really pleased to finish with a par.”
Hunt’s victory means he now has a lead of more than 200 points in the Order of Merit and even a modest placing in the final event at Kingsdown, Wiltshire, should be sufficient for him to win it for a second time.
First, though, are two rather more pressing engagements: next week’s Asbri Welsh National PGA Championship at Pyle and Kenfig, and the PGA Cup in Oregon, USA, later in the month.
Having won the PGA South West Region’s last two Order of Merit tournaments, however, Hunt’s form bodes well for a busy September.
“I’m looking forward to defending my Welsh title,” he added. “I like Pyle and Kenfig and have played there quite a bit.
“As for the PGA Cup, I’ve certainly had a better second half of the season in terms of my form. I’ve got another lesson with Will (Urwin) my coach tomorrow, so fingers crossed I hit it a little bit straighter than I did today and I finish the season strongly.
“I’ve got a busy September and Q School, so there’s a lot to look forward to.”
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