Johnson claims Swinley crown

James Johnson (Broadwater Park) shot a superb five-under-par 63 around Swinley Forest to win the penultimate round of The PGA in England (South) Winter Series with Titleist & FootJoy.

To top off a really good day at the office, Johnson not only took home the first prize of £330, but also picked up the highly-prized ball, glove and shoe contract as the Leading Assistant from Titleist & FootJoy.

Three strokes behind in second place with rounds of 66 was the trio of current Winter Series Order of Merit leader Max Brackley (Manston), Michael Lowe (Leatherhead) and Matthew Rice (Purley Downs). Underlining the challenge that Harry Colt’s ‘least bad course’ still presents to modern professionals, Rice made five birdies and three bogeys while Lowe’s card included four birdies and two bogeys, marking a welcome return to his old winning form after an injury-plagued 2014.

Playing Swinley Forest for the first time and starting at the par-three 10^th, Johnson almost started with a hole-in-one, finishing two inches from the hole with a five iron. Despite playing for position off the tees, he dropped a shot at the 13^th, but went on to make birdies at the 18^th, the first and then a tap-in eagle at the fifth after hitting a rescue club to half an inch. A birdie at the sixth and three straight pars left Johnson with a card for 63, one shot off the course record.

A first year assistant at Broadwater Park GC in Godalming, owned by his greenkeeping father Adrian and PGA head professional Kevin Milton, Johnson was delighted with his first individual win as a PGA Professional.

He reflected: “With Dad on my bag, it was great to win my first individual PGA event. I reached the quarter final of the Sunningdale Foursomes a couple of weeks ago, and won a Pairs event last December, but this win sets up what I hope will be my first season playing in the Order of Merit events. My coach Mark Allison at Bramley will also be very encouraged by this result, and get me working harder!”

With just one event left in the 2014-2015 Winter Series, the Titleist & FootJoy Assistants and Trainees BetterBall Pro-Am at Farnham on April 15^th, current Order of Merit leader Brackley is looking good. He commented: “I knew I had a good chance at Swinley to increase my lead, but I had to keep my ball in business and try to make as many opportunities as possible.” In fact, Brackley missed just one green in an otherwise a regulation round, making birdies at the second, fifth and 16^th and a bogey at the par three 13^th for his 66.