Robinson wins Buildbase Open

James Robinson won his second HotelPlanner.com PGA Europro Tour title after carding a final-round 71 (-1) to finish 12-under-par in the Buildbase Open at Frilford Heath Golf Club.

The 25 year old won as an amateur at Slaley Hall in 2010 but this time was able to take home the £10,000 winner’s prize along with a brand new Motocaddy trolley and a Shotsaver range finder.

Robinson (Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club) had broken the course record with a nine-under 63 in his opening round, carded a 70 for the second and then fended off the challenge of Jack Colegate with a 71 for his final round.

Colegate (Deangate Ridge Golf Club) finished just one shot behind on 11-under-par having also carded a final-round 71, and James Watts took third on 10-under with rounds of 67, 70, 69.
Robinson and Colegate had exchanged the lead several times in the afternoon, but a birdie at 14 and an eagle three on the 15^th saw Robinson move two clear for the first time in the final round.

Both players then parred 16 and 17, giving Robinson a two-stroke lead on the par-four last. He took three shots to reach the green while Colegate took just two, but Robinson two-putted for bogey while his challenger made par, handing the Lancashire man the Buildbase Open title.

“It is my first win as a pro but I won as an amateur on the Europro in 2010,” said Robinson. “It feels amazing to win it as a pro and take the £10,000 home and add that on to the Order of Merit, which is what we all play for at the end of the day.

“It is a big confidence boost. I felt a little bit of pressure because I knew I could shoot nine-under but I stayed patient, stuck to my routine and played solid golf. The key was at 14 and 15 where I made birdie and then chipped in for an eagle.

“It helps for the Order of Merit and of course the top five is where I have always wanted to be, so hopefully I can push on and get on to the Challenge Tour but I will have to keep playing well because the standard is so good on the Europro.”

The final round was filmed for a two-hour highlights programme to be aired on Sky Sports HD on July 1 with repeats the following day. The HotelPlanner.com PGA Europro Tour heads to Scotland next, for the Motocaddy Masters at The Carrick on Loch Lomond (July 9-11) and then to Royal Burgess in Edinburgh for The Simpson and Marwick Championship (July 16-18).