King Richard takes Christmas crown

North Foreland’s four-time PGA South Order of Merit champion Richard Wallis shot a festive three-under-par 68 around Royal Cinque Ports’ links at Deal to win the final Pro-Am of the 2014 PGA South schedule, the PGA Kent Christmas Fayre, by two strokes.

An impressive 108 competitors from 27 teams gathered at the famous Deal links to play an Open qualifying course in fantastic condition with traditional Deal weather - sunshine, strong winds and freezing temperatures - adding to the prospect of a great days’ of golf. Topped off with a memorable Christmas lunch, the festive spirit helped raise over £3,000 for local children’s charity Demelza, thanks to a raffle and auction organised by Kent PGA stalwarts Chris Evans (Tandridge) and Royal Cinque Ports’ very own Andrew Reynolds.

With perfect timing to celebrate Christmas, Wallis collected £555 while comfortably seeing off the one-under-par 70 of nearest rival and local favourite, Mark Belsham of Prince’s. Belsham’s back nine birdie charge finished with one at the 18th to edge this year’s PGA South No 1, Benn Barham (PGolfCoaching@Pedham), into third place. Besides the individual efforts, Paul Sherman’s team from Langley Park won the magnificent team prizes.

Wallis’s 68 contained just one dropped shot at the 214-yard par three 14th, birdies at the third and the 17th, and an incredible eagle at the 322-yard sixth. Delighted to find some form again, he said: “Although it was a freezing two to three club wind, it was blowing across from the west. The course was perfect, firm and dry - you won’t find a course in better shape at this time of the year.

He continued: “I made a couple of great shots early on, my five-iron second at the third to five foot for a three, and a three wood at the short par four sixth. I held up a draw into the wind and watched it finish in the middle of the green 10 foot from the flag for another birdie. Apart from that one mistake at the 14th, I was very happy with the way I played.”

Belsham’s performance was impressive for its back nine finish. Three-over with seven to go, it looked like Belsham had an impossible task, but birdies at the 12th, 14th and 16th got him back to level par, and a terrific three up the 18th nudged Barham’s 71 into third spot.

Wallis is now looking forward to turning up the heat in 2015. He said: “My focus is on PGA EuroPro and Challenge Tour events, but I’ll be playing in all the PGA South Order of Merit tournaments. My coach Paul Page (Kings Hill) found a couple of things to work on, so every day sees me at the gym and the range working to get my A game back on track.”