No car but ace Levermore motors at Wentworth

Jason Levermore supplied a perfect antidote to the off course shenanigans at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth with a hole-in-one during the tournament’s first round.

As the fallout from Sergio Garcia’s remarks about Tiger Woods rumbled on, the PGA Professional at Channels Golf Club, Essex, wielded his eight iron to hole his tee shot at the par three 155-yard second on the West Course.

In doing so, he ended a 22-year wait by emulating the feat of Wraith Grant, the last PGA pro to record a hole-in-one at the tournament.

Coincidentally, Grant, who ‘aced’ the fifth in 1991, was in the news himself last week as a result of winning the Senior PGA Championship at Northants County.

Levermore is one of 10 PGA Professionals competing in the event via the PGA Play-Offs and his ace got him away to a flying start, leaving him two-under after three holes.

It also ensured his name will go in the record books as the 25^th player to record a hole-in-one in the history of the Championship.

Had his ace come at the par three 14^th, however, it would also have earned him a £60,000 plus BMW Gran Coupe on offer from the tournament sponsors.

Which is what Levermore, who drives a nine-year-old Renault Laguna, was led to believe.

“I didn’t expect anything from it at first,” admitted the 33-year-old. “But then friends and family (who were following me round) started saying the European Tour was tweeting that I’d won a car.

“I thought they were pulling my leg, then one of them showed me the picture of the car. So I got a little bit excited and thought I’d won it. Then when we were called in because of the bad weather, I was told I hadn’t.

“At that stage I’d already spent the money – I had a few plans.”

Levermore was one-over-par and waiting to tackle the par five 17^th when the threat of lightning interrupted play but the bad news imparted during the impromptu 90 minute break did not put him off his game.

Instead, he completed the 17^th in regulation before sinking his birdie putt at the last to post a level par round of 72 and in good shape to make the cut – as he did two years ago.

“I finished birdie, birdie on the Friday night then to make the cut,” he recalled. “If I can replicate that tomorrow or do something similar it would be lovely. Maybe I could buy myself a car then.”

Levermore shared the position of leading PGA Professional in the 150 strong field with Greig Hutcheon after the Scot from Banchory saw a birdie chance go begging at the last.

“I missed a nice to chance for birdie at the end but it was a good round,” he said.

“I had an unfortunate six at 11, which was a double, and a bogey at 17, where I missed a four footer for par. I also missed a couple of short putts to finish but level par is a decent enough score.

“However, having played at this level so much you know that you can’t afford the missed four footers and sloppy shots, you’ve got to hole them and keeping the ball in play.”

Hutcheon, like Levermore, has played in the event before but that did not prevent nerves creeping in as he stood on the first tee.

“It’s a big event and great to play in,” he added.  “If I wasn’t nervous on the first tee there’d be something wrong with me.

“I know I can shoot in the 60s round this golf course. I know I can break par and that will be the aim. It’s tough golf course but I know I can beat it.”

Similarly, Ireland’s David Higgins confessed to being nervous prior to a round that ended with him two-over-par.

“Two over is not disastrous but it could have been better,” said the PGA pro from Waterville, who claimed a top 10 finish last year.

“I love this place but again it was windy like last year. I didn’t putt as well and I’ve got to hole those next round and keep going.

“I know I’m good enough (to make the cut) but when you get a chance and you’ve not been there for a while you are not used to it and a little bit nervous. You’ve just got to get used to it.”

Paul Streeter was also left to rue what might have been after closing on three-over.

“I played great tee to green,” said Streeter, the PGA pro at Lincoln Golf Centre.  “But I had an absolute nightmare on the greens. Missed a four-foot putt for par on the first, four-footer for par on the third, three-putted the fourth and the 17^th.

“I played well out there and deserved better, so I’m cheesed off to say the least.  I shouldn’t have been over par but I’ve got tomorrow to put things right.”

Meanwhile, James Whatley (Morley Hayes) and Scott Henderson (Kings Links Golf Centre) will have to pull out all the stops to put things right in the second round after posting scores of seven-over and 10-over respectively.

Whatley, who was making his European Tour debut, said:  “I loved every minute of it. I came with that attitude and felt really comfortable out there.

“I hit a few loose shots, which cost you and I think that’s the difference between playing a course like this and what I’m used to.

“I’ve been hitting that [opening] tee shot almost every night for the past three months in my head so I’ve got there and felt really calm.

“So I feel a little bit disappointed [with my scoring] but when I saw [Rory] McIlroy had finished two-over and I was three-over through nine I thought that’s my target. Perhaps it didn’t turn out like that but it puts it into perspective; it’s not easy out there.”

The interruption for bad weather meant that, of the 10 PGA pros who qualified via the PGA Play-Offs, Levermore, Hutcheon, Higgins, Streeter, Whatley and Henderson were the only ones who completed their rounds.

The remaining four - Richard Wallis, Gareth Wright, Thomas Fleming and Barrie Trainor – will have to finish theirs on Friday morning.

Former Tour Tartan No.1s Craig Lee and Chris Doak both carded two-over-par 74s to maintain their chances of making the cut.