PGA makes mark on flagship event

**Tommy Fleetwood with PGA pro and close friend Alan Bradshaw

Tommy Fleetwood wore a grin which stretched from ear to ear after making an albatross during round three of the BMW PGA Championship.

It could be argued his feat bore the stamp of The PGA. Fleetwood is coached by PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen and practises at the PGA Academy at Formby Hall where he is close friends with pro Alan Bradshaw.

It is only the third occasion in the tournament’s 60-year history that such a feat has been achieved, after strikes from Pierre Fulke in 1994 and Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2009.

Ironically it was the Spaniard who prevented Fleetwood, who sits 11-under-par, laying claim to his fourth-hole strike being undoubtedly the best shot of the day.

Jimenez, who finished one shot further back, hit a hole-in-one at the par-three second - the tenth of his career - which landed with just the right amount of back-spin to send it rolling back into the cup. Cue a frankly impressive jig in front of the watching cameras that with a certain degree of inevitability instantly went viral on Twitter.

Each man will now chase joint leaders Francesco Molinari and Byeong Hun An (-14) during the final round. South Korean An spent the first two rounds playing in the same group as Snainton PGA Professional Alex Belt. The Yorkshireman was making his first BMW PGA Championship appearance.

Further down the field PGA Professional Oliver Farr carded a level-par 72 that kept him on track for his best European Tour finish of the year.

He currently sits on three-under-par, one shot clear of Justin Rose and 2013 winner Matteo Manassero, who hit four birdies in a row on the front nine.

Farr, son of 2014 Lombard Trophy finalist and former Open player Graham (Worcester), was playing on the third-tier Europro Tour just two years ago but could now find himself finishing in the top 30 in the European Tour’s flagship event.

And one-handed-chipper Jason Palmer, a graduate from The PGA’s AGMS degree, sits on level-par despite a double bogey at the eighth. He is currently level with PGA pro Pete Ball’s protégé Danny Willett.