Richer pickings for Wallis

Richard Wallis (Walmer & Kingsdown) made a successful defence of his PGA Surrey Open title.

The Kent star shot a 10-under-par 130 around Richmond Park GC to win one of The PGA’s most historic trophies by three shots and lead the 2013 Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit.

Taking home the trophy, a magnum of Lanson champagne and a cheque for £1,750, Wallis said tongue-in-cheek, “I don’t like giving back trophies!” and continued “I played well, but the key for me was yardage and distance control. The fairways were quite fiery while the greens could be quite soft, and it wasn’t easy to keep making birdie opportunities out there.”

With a creditable second place on 133, a cheque for £1,210 and a new official course record under his belt, Jordan Godwin (Rochester & Cobham) had led after the first round with a terrific seven-under-par round of 63. He acknowledged that in the second round he had misjudged the yardage once too often but was pleased with the overall result.

“I was happy with the way I played,” he said, “and it’s my best result in a Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit event. For the second round I was aiming at level par or better and while I’d have liked a few more birdies, I learnt a lot about myself over the back nine.”

In third spot on six-under-par 134 was the trio of Alan Lovelace (Merrist Wood College), Jamie Harris (KRL), and Torie Blakemore (Merrist Wood), each player taking home a cheque for £700.

After a solid first round of four-under-par, Wallis decided the target was 10-under and used his driver nine times in an aggressive approach to making birdies. Two-under-par at the turn, and six-under overall, Wallis finished very strongly with an early birdie at the 12th and then birdies at the 15th, 16th and the 18th.

He added: “I missed a couple of greens second time round, but I only had two bogeys in 36 holes. I knew I had to be patient and keep giving myself as many chances as possible, and I was really pleased to finish strongly with three birdies in the last four holes. This result puts me in good shape for my 2013 goals of getting a top three placing in the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit and another crack at the PGA Play Offs.”

Jon Dummett, PGA Professional and Director of Golf for Glendale Golf at Richmond Park GC, said: “We’re delighted to be chosen to host such a high profile PGA event, of which past champions include Warren Humphries and Neil Coles MBE. The significant improvements we’re making to the Duke’s and Prince’s courses along with the new clubhouse facilities, means Richmond Park Golf Course is now in a position to host events of this scale.”

Noting the Duke’s Course opened in 1925, he added: “The PGA Surrey Open Championship was first played in 1926 and I’m thrilled that nine decades later the event is coming to Richmond Park Golf Course for the first time. There’s great history behind the tournament and Richmond Park, and the event is a great way to mark the course’s 90th anniversary year.”