Nothing Bland about record 62 at Stoneham

Stoneham’s own Richard Bland shot an astonishing ten-under-par 62 to grab victory in the Stoneham Pro-Am, supported by Ridon Joinery and Lexus Hedge End, setting a new course record in the process.

Matching the heat on the warmest day of the year so far, the European Tour player’s hot round still included one bogey.

Nonetheless it was still more than enough to snatch one of the largest cheques on the schedule, £1,500, from the hard charging Benn Barham (PGolfCoaching@Pedham) who shot a seven-under-par 65 for second spot and £900.

Bland started with an eagle and never looked back, birdieing the third, fifth and eighth to be five-under-par at the turn.

Two mundane pars followed until Bland’s birdie streak kicked in again, making birdies from the 12^th to the 18^th, pausing only once to make an errant bogey on the 15^th on his way to setting a new professional course record.

Barham by comparison started with a birdie but gave it back at the next hole and dropped another at the seventh. His birdie at the ninth left him back on level par and with a fighting chance of a place if he could produce a scorching back nine.

That was exactly what Barham proceeded to do, even though it took him two more holes before his got his charge going.

He birdied the 12^th and 13^th, and then made a terrific eagle at the 14^th to reach four-under-par with four holes to go. Birdies at the 15^th, 16^th and at the final hole put Barham on seven-under-par, edging out Jamie Harris’s (Nevill) 66.

“Stoneham was in good nick and the greens suited me very well, but the heat and the breeze amongst those trees was quite a challenge,” said Bland.

“Nonetheless, it was terrific fun and given I was five shots ahead of him at the turn, Benn’s seven-under-par back nine was spectacular.

“I’d also like to thank the generosity of the sponsors Ridon Joinery and Lexus Hedge End whose support for the day made it a genuinely memorable one for everyone.”

Barham was happy he’d given Bland a run for his money, adding:  “By the end of the front nine I’d put myself in a pretty poor position to have a go at Richard’s score, but the ride on the final seven holes was great fun, and gave me a boost for the upcoming PGA Surrey Open at Kingswood next week.”