Phil has the Wright stuff with hole in one

From L to R: Craig Shave with amateur Phil Wright

Whetstone Golf Club amateur Phil Wright hit a hole in one as he sealed a place in the Lombard Trophy final in Portugal.

Wright teamed up with PGA professional Craig Shave for the regional final at Sandy Lodge Golf Club in north London - and the Leicester-based pairing dominated the event.

They carded a stunning 13 under par round of 58 to finish four shots clear of their nearest challengers, Chris Cutchie and Dominic Bibby of Colchester Golf Club.

But it was Wright’s ace at the par three eighth hole that stole the show and contributed to a front nine score of just 27.

Shave and Wright will now represent Whetstone in Portugal for the £41,450, Coca-Cola and Pestana Resorts supported, National Pro-Am grand final which will be played at the Vila Sol resort in the Algarve between September 20-21.

“The hole in one was a nice little surprise, it was all a bit of a blur afterwards, it was one skip and in, I’d done it before about 25 years ago, but that was just in a round with the lads - never in a competition like this,” said 16-handicapper Wright, who turned 50 six days before the event.

“I couldn’t believe it when the ball disappeared in the hole, everyone was laughing and cheering. It rounded off a perfect day, you think it’s going to be your day, but nobody said anything until Craig put a shot within two feet of the hole on the 18th hole, then he said: ‘I think we’ve done all right here’ - but we still weren’t sure we’d won it.”

The service engineer has only been a member at Whetstone for a year.

“I’d never really been able to afford it before, but I decided to treat myself last year, now I’m glad I did,” he said.

“I can’t believe we’re going to Portugal, it’s a nice late birthday present.”

Ironically, the pair almost did not play at all after a delay in entering the competition meant they had to take part in the qualifying round in London rather than at Sutton Coldfield’s Little Aston Golf Club.

“Phil had a really good front nine and I birdied the last three holes, but we weren’t expecting anything, we just wanted to enjoy it, but we both played well and it was good,” said Shave.

“I’ve never played this final before, I haven’t taken part in it much but the club wanted to do it this year.”

THE LOMBARD TROPHY

PGA Regional Final at Sandy Lodge Golf Club, Thursday, July 19, 2018
 
Pos           Score        Professional/Amateur                 Representing

Q1             58 (-13)    Craig Shave/Phil Wright                   Whetstone Golf Club
2               62 (-9)      Chris Cutchie/Dominic Bibby            Colchester Golf Club
3               63 (-8)      Lee Fickling/John Ward                    Crews Hill
                                 Jason Levermore/Kevin Tonkinson    Regiment Way