Portelli wins thanks to late birdie burst
20/07/2015
Glen Portelli (Verulam) birdied five of the last six holes to win the Brookmans Park Pro-Am in sensational style.
He looked to have little chance of catching morning starter Phil Abbott (John O’Gaunt), who signed for a three-under 68.
Portelli began at the 10th and appeared to be out of the picture as he was one-over stood on the fourth tee.
But he made a two at the par-three to launch a stunning birdie blitz that culminated with him picking up a stroke at each of the last three holes.
His four-under-par total of 67 saw him pip Abbott by a shot with Andrew Shakespear (Warren) back in third place on two-under.
Portelli said: "I played well on my front nine and didn't look like making a bogey at all. Then I made a couple of silly mistakes at the first and second.
"That's how it's been going the last few weeks and I've not reacted very well. But I've managed to make a two into the wind at the long par-three fourth and things just happened from there.
"It was nice to end up with a low one ahead of the Order of Merit event at Colchester. I had a little bit more control of my ball which you will need to have around there."
It was Portelli’s third pro-am victory on home soil this year. And he made it a double success on the day, leading the winning team on a total of 130.
