Neil-Jones wins at Lydd

Hilden Park Golf Centre’s Ricki Neil-Jones celebrated some of his best form this year by winning The PGA in Kent Assistants’ Championship with a two-under-par 69 at last minute venue Lydd GC. 

Just 24 hours before the first shot was struck, Lydd GC stepped in to host the new event on The PGA in Kent calendar. The original venue had become waterlogged due to heavy rain over the previous 48 hours and was forced to close. Whilst Lydd GC was still wet in places, the links-style greens still presented near perfect putting surfaces.

Neil-Jones took home the £500 winner’s cheque thanks to The PGA in Kent’s new supporter Watchfinder, plus an UnderArmour waterproof suit. In the past two weeks Neil-Jones has tied for the Epsom Pro-Am title, finished fourth in The PGA in Kent Championship, and sixth in the Assistants & Trainees Championship. Thanks to a five foot birdie putt at the 18^th, he’s now scored another success.

Playing in the last group of three with Manston’s Max Brackley, it was his other playing partner, Deal rookie Marcus Lester, who proved to be the one to keep an eye on. At the turn Neil-Jones was two-under-par to Lester’s level par, but Lester’s birdies at the 10^th and 12^th put him one ahead after Neil-Jones bogeyed the 12^th.

Lester then bogeyed the 14^th and while a birdie at the 15^th put him back in front, another bogey at the 16^th meant the two players were neck and neck once more. Both parred the 17^th, but it was the victor who made a terrific birdie at the final hole to snatch the title.

Neil-Jones said: “I’m really pleased with my golf today, it went right down to the wire with Marcus. Winning here crowns a nice run of form for me, and I’m just chuffed to notch up a win here amongst the rest of the county. We are all really grateful to the Kent PGA Committee for providing the platform for an event like this for Trainees in Kent to play in. Likewise, a big thanks to Lydd for enabling us to actually play today!”