King Harrold rules at The Belfry

William Harrold (above) won the opening event of the HotelPlanner.com PGA Europro Tour season, shooting a final-round 71 to finish four-under-par in the Matchroom Championship on the Brabazon Course at The Belfry.

The Norfolk golfer began the day four behind 36-hole leader Jack Senior (Heysham Golf Club), but the former Walker Cup man shot 76 in his final round to fall to three-under-par at the close of play, earning him second place.

Harrold (Sheringham Golf Club) collects a winner’s cheque of £10,000 plus a brand new Motocaddy S1 Pro trolley. It is his first win on the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour, having missed out in a play-off at The Oxfordshire last season.

“It feels great,” said Harrold. “I was ready for another play-off but I am happy to not have had to have that again. My dad was on the bag this week. He’s a good caddy and we have a good record together. He was on the bag at The Oxfordshire last year too.

“I will take it one step at a time this season; the next one will be just as tough as this one. I play my golf one step at a time but we all know what can happen at the end of the season.

“I plan to play all the Europro events this year, and hopefully one or two on the Challenge Tour too.”

Harrold completed his front nine in 36 shots after cancelling out his sixth-hole bogey with a birdie at the ninth. Coming in he bogeyed the 11th but birdied 13 and then the 17th to move to four-under.
Second-place Senior double-bogeyed the first, cutting his overnight lead to one stroke. Bogeys at three, six and 13 saw him away from contention but a late flurry of three consecutive birdies at 15, 16 and 17 saw him draw level with leader Harrold, who was playing in the group ahead.

However, the Lancastrian found a bunker on 18 and double bogeyed the hole to miss out on a play-off. Gary King (Tyrrells Wood) and former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst shared third on two-under.

Highlights of the event will be broadcast eight times on Sky Sports, premiering at 8pm on Tuesday, April 29.

The next HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event is the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters at Montrose, beginning on April 29.