Late birdie boost for on-song Holland
21/11/2013
Roy Holland dramatically birdied the final two holes at Cleeve Hill to tie with Giuseppe Licata in the Gloucester and Somerset PGA Medal.
They each returned one-under-par rounds of 70 over the tricky hilltop course, which overlooks Cheltenham, to claim a two stroke winning margin over Ed Goodwin (Cirencester).
Heavy rain and a hailstorm greeted the early starters making it very unpleasant for a time and the later starters in a full field of 30 enjoyed the best weather when the sun appeared fleetingly on a chilly day.
Holland (Long Ashton) enjoyed the best of the weather as he was out in the final group on the course well presented by greenkeeper Nigel Thompson. He picked up shots at the first and fourth, the two par-fives on the outward half, but also dropped shots at the third, fifth and short sixth before making a birdie three at the ninth.
He returned with six pars and a bogey at the 14th before his vital two final birdies.
Licata (Bristol Golf Centre) was a picture of consistency with 15 pars. He also picked up birdies at the first and fourth and made a solitary bogey at the par three 16th.
This strengthened his position at the head of the Total Triumph Order of Merit standings and he now holds a 20-point lead over Goodwin.
The Cirencester man does not intend to relinquish his Order of Merit crown without a fight and he produced a round of 72 to take third spot, despite not always being on the best of form during his round.
His highlight was sinking a lengthy birdie putt from just off the front of the green at the 17th to nudge him ahead of a trio of players on 73 - PGA captain Daryl Kelley (Filton), new Tall Pines assistant Luke Collins and Somerset Amateur Matt Kippen (Enmore Park).
Kippen shared the birdie sweep with Holland, with both making five. Paul Barrington (Players Club) was again the leading over 40s player with 74.
