Morrison’s Nelson touch

Open de España winner and European Tour star James Morrison showed his class at the Nelson Trophy Pro-Am, shooting a dazzling eight-under-par 62 around St George’s Hill GC to win the invitational event by four shots.

Walking away with the winner’s cheque for £800, Morrison was in a league of his own around the Red-Blue layout, while second place went to current leader of the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent), who carded 66 for £650.  While Ablett’s round included three bogeys, Morrison’s was flawless.

In third place on two-under-par were David Osborn (West Hill), Zane Scotland (Woodcote Park), Chris Gane (LeftHandedGolf@Silvermere) and Chobham’s PGA EuroPro Tour regular Greg Payne.  Charlie George’s Wisley team lead the scoring in the team event with 31 teams made up of St George’s Hill Members and Guests.

Morrison lives close to the course and was delighted to get an invite to play at what is widely regarded as one of Surrey’s best, designed by the legendary Harry Colt over one hundred years ago. 

In turn, the club ensured the course was at its very best with firm and fast greens, while for once the weather dealt a good hand with dry conditions all day long.

For a course described on The Top 100 Golf Courses of the World website as not having a single weak hole, Morrison’s score demonstrated very clearly how high the Tour standard is these days.

Starting on the 12th, he opened with a birdie and made one more at the 16th. On reaching the first tee, he then birdied this hole and charged through the third, fourth, sixth and seventh to reach seven-under-par. 

Reaching his last hole, the 110 yard 11th, he produced his final flourish and made his second deuce of the round.

Even if Ablett had kept his card bogey-free, his seven birdies weren’t going to be enough to out-do Morrison, as he commented: “For what is generally regarded as one of the great heathland courses and a fine test of golf, I’d say the other James put on a bit of a masterclass!

“I’m still happy with my form, and while I should have kept the bogeys off my card, a 66 at St. George’s Hill and a nice cheque makes for a great day out!”

The long standing Pro-Am on the PGA South and St George’s Hill calendars again raised funds for local charity, The Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, which has now received over £250,000 pounds in total.

The next Virgin Atlantic PGA Order of Merit event is the Samsung PGA Southern Professionals Championship at King’s Hill, Kent, on September 9th and 10th, where a £3,000 prize for the winner is up for grabs.