Levermore lands London Open thriller

Jason Levermore (Little Channels Golf Centre) showed his customary ice-cool temperament to win the London Open in a play-off at West Essex.

Levermore, 38, looked to have the tournament at his mercy within regulation play, needing to two-putt from only six feet on the 18th green.

But his first downhill effort rolled around three feet beyond the cup and he missed the return.

That meant Levermore finished his two rounds at three-under-par alongside Glen Portelli (Old Fold Manor) and extra time was required to split the pair.

At the first additional hole Portelli produced a wonderful up-and-down from dense rough to save par. The two men then birdied the next.

But Levermore parred the third play-off hole which Portelli could only bogey after missing the green left with his approach.

It gave the Essex ace a ninth Order of Merit victory – but first since 2012 – and meant it was a case of all’s well that ends well after that dramatic three-putt at the end of his second round.

Levermore reflected: “It was one of them. I dribbled the first putt three foot past and lipped out coming back.

“But I don’t really get too excited, to be honest. Obviously I didn’t enjoy three-putting it but it wasn’t going to ruin my day, put it that way.

“I’ve not won a great deal lately, so if someone had said to me at the start of the day that I’d finish second I’d have been happy with that.

“Going in to the play-offs there was not much to lose and I played the three holes nicely.

“It’s great to win. I hit 15 greens on the first day and 15, maybe 16 greens the second day, so I’ve just been very steady. I made only two bogies over the two days.”

By contrast Portelli’s tournament was more of a rollercoaster ride. He made 11 birdies and an eagle but also carded 10 bogies.

Three of those came in the closing seven holes to see him drop back from six-under-par after he’d made a blistering start to his second round.

Portelli said: “I should have seen it through. But it could have been worse. I could’ve not even been in the play-offs.

“But definitely, next time, I want to try and finish a bit stronger.”

Reigning Order of Merit champion Rob Coles (Maylands Golf & Country Club) made a timely birdie at the last to jump out of a cluster of players and claim third place on his own.

Two former European Tour winners Simon Khan and Ray Russell (Centurion Club) shared fourth along with first round leader Aaron Cox (Elsenham Golf & Leisure).

The accompanying better-ball event was won by Coles and eight-handicapper Chris Blakebrough. They finished on a tally of 126, two clear at the top.

The Order of Merit series moves onto Bentley next week (June 20-21) for the Marstons East Anglian Open.