New kid on the block

Two weeks after serving notice with his maiden victory in the PGA Southern Professional Championship, rookie Robert Gowers (South Winchester) has won his second Virgin Atlantic Order of Merit event.

Gowers edged out the hard-charging James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) to capture the Tylney Park Classic by one shot with a 13-under-par total of 131.

Along with his winner’s cheque for £1,300, Gowers has now shot into second place in the Order of Merit and with just the Keith MacDonald Match Play Finals and Wildwood Invitational on October 7 and 8 respectively, the young assistant professional is pushing hard for one of the three places to the Titleist PGA Play Offs in Turkey in November.

In the face of a strong field, Gowers’ flawless opening round was a clear statement of intent, with eight birdies and an eight-under-par 64 to lead by three.

His performance in the second round soon demonstrated his determination to win, with four more birdies on his opening nine getting him to twelve-under with nine holes to go.

At this point, Ablett in the penultimate pairing was starting to show Gowers that he wasn’t going to get his hands on the trophy without a fight. After an opening 68, Ablett had added four more birdies to his score by the turn, but a bogey at the seventh was to prove expensive.

Ablett then charged with five more birdies, but his five foot putt slipped over the edge of the final hole leaving him on twelve-under.

Gowers had eagled the 14th to extend his lead, but although bogeying the 16th put him on his mettle once again, his par par finish was immaculate and he enjoyed the comfort of two putts from five feet at the last to claim his second major title.

Gowers was delighted with his achievement, saying: “I was hitting it pretty close in the first round and making the putts, but while my irons were good in the second round, my putting wasn’t quite so hot.

“I want to thank Danny Harris at Southampton City GC for his guidance, as he’s really helped me harness my potential.”

Reflecting on his golf, Gowers added: “While I could see what James was doing, I tried not to think about anything but the next shot and to focus my aggressive style of playing on the task in hand.

“If I can do the same at Wildwood, I may be in with a crack at the PGA Play Offs, which is now my main aim for this year.”