Maurice rekindles Masters magic to take Super 60s

Maurice Bembridge (above left) displayed some of the shot-making skills that once saw him hold the course record at Augusta as he and lifelong pal Michael Curley captured the PGA Super 60s at Thorpness Hotel and Golf Club.

The former Ryder Cup ace reeled off three straight birdies from the first which helped them card a four-under-par 66 and secure a one-stroke victory in the £10,000 tournament.

Finishing in second on four-under-par were Northumberland-based pro Graham Cant and his Glasgow partner Jim Armstrong.

Host pro Frank Hill and the hotel chairman Tim Rowan-Robinson shared third at two-under alongside Martin Gray and Nicol Wilson and Hugh Jackson and James Clynch who picked up the Superb 70s for leading pair aged over 70.

First round leaders Lawrence Farmer and Roger De Courcey had to settle for tied sixth while the PGA pair of Phil Weaver and Sandy Jones posted the low round of the day with a six-under-par 64.

Bembridge, who is based in St Gallen, 50 miles from Zurich, revealed at 68 that he still has a passion to practise and it showed as he provided the platform for victory which earned him a first prize of £1,250.

“I like to play well, I play four times a week and hit balls and still work at my game although I don’t play in the rain,” said Bembridge who shot a 64 at Augusta in 1974 which stood for 12 years.

“Ben Hogan used to say if you stop trying to improve at this game then it’s time to dig yourself under.”

He added: “It’s always nice to win, it’s what you play for but it was quite a surprise to win at five-under. Everybody must have fallen down.

“The last six holes were difficult though.

“Michael came in with a very solid par at 11 when I made a complete hash of it from 10 feet and he came in on a couple of other holes.”

Leicestershire-based Curley is no stranger to playing with golfing heroes having played with 76 Ryder Cup players in his time with one of his companies sponsoring  a Ryder Cup legends tournament.

But he admitted this victory was extra special for a couple of reasons.

“I first met Maurice 53 years ago when I joined Worksop Golf Club and he worked for David Snell as the assistant so to win a PGA national title, particularly partnering a friend, is such an honour it’s incredible.

“And it’s even more so as it has been won twice in the past by David (Snell) and Jack Timms who are close friends of ours.”

Cant and Armstrong (pictured below left and right respectively) signed for a closing 67 which included an eagle on the 322-yard par four first when the former Arcot Hall and Longhirst Hall pro holed a wedge from 120 yards.

“You can’t ask for anything better to get you going,” said Cant.

“We actually felt unlucky yesterday when I hit it to three feet and three putted so sometimes you feel that makes up for it.

“We combined well, we played what I call pro-am golf, birdie, bogey in and out and both contributed.”

Armstrong, who worked for John Letters golf clubs in its heyday in the 1960s when they supplied most of the leading European players, was delighted to finish second and enjoy the picturesque Thorpeness setting.

“The place is fantastic although it’s not easy to get to from Glasgow!

“But it was nice to play on a course that was burnt a bit, instead of soggy and wet. We played well in what were quite tricky conditions but I really enjoyed it and to finish second is terrific.”