Order of Merit triumph for Webber

First-year PGA assistant James Webber holed an 18-foot birdie putt at the second hole of extra time to clinch victory in a thrilling renewal of the Weston Homes plc Bishop’s Stortford Classic.

Webber (Three Rivers) showed great composure to win his first Order of Merit title, pipping the more experienced Rob Leonard (Harpenden Common).

The pair had finished with identical scores for regulation play, firing rounds of 70 and 71 for respective one-under-par totals of 141. That left them a stroke clear of Rob Coles (Maylands) and Darren Charlton (Dunstable Downs).

After the duo both halved the first play-off hole, they made their way to the daunting par-3 17^th, which was measuring just over 200 yards with wind hurting off the right.

That was when Webber – a former England amateur international – pulled a shot right out of the top drawer. He hit a fizzing 5-iron at a back flag on a long green, landing inside 20 feet.

Leonard answered with a fine iron of his own and duly followed up with a fine lag putt to within inches.

But Webber, 23, struck a superbly-judged birdie putt, reading the pace and break to perfection and the ball just made the front edge of the cup before dropping.

The Essex golfer hailed his victory by declaring: “It is right up there. To come on this circuit and be at the top of the list is great.  

“The putt was about a foot right to left and uphill. I fancied it but previously (in the second round) I’d knocked it by, so I knew I couldn’t be too aggressive. I was trying to hole it – but just a foot past, max. But it definitely wouldn’t have gone a foot past...it just fell in that front edge!”

Webber played alongside the likes Tom Lewis, Tyrrell Hatton and Chris Lloyd during his England days. That trio have all progressed onto the European Tour and one day Webber dreams of joining them.

But more immediately he is awaiting the results of the exams taken at the end of his first year studying for the PGA Foundation degree.

He joked: “Hopefully, there will be no re-sits! I got through all the assignments...scraped through!”

Leonard’s excellent performance once again proved the adage, beware the ailing golfer. The Hertfordshire golfer was unwell on the eve of the tournament but led down the stretch until back-to-back birdies from Webber at 14 and 15.

A Webber bogey at the last triggered the playoff before his masterstroke on the 38^th green meant Leonard had to be content with the runner-up spot, this time.

Leonard said: “It was disappointing at the end but I’m fairly happy to come second. I’d have taken that at the start of the week. To be honest, I didn’t even get out of bed all day on Tuesday as I was ill with a little cold.”

The second Order of Merit event on the PGA in England (East) schedule takes place at Essendon Country Club on June 17-18.