Rodgers adds Cuddington to his weekend collection

Shooting a four-under-par 67, Chris Rodgers boosted his growing winnings pot by winning the Cuddington Pro-Am outright from the following pack that included Nico Els (Clandon Regis), Lewis Atkinson (The Buckinghamshire) and PGA Surrey Open champion Chris Gane (LefthandedGolf at Silvermere).

Rodgers was rewarded with a cheque for £1,111 and the satisfaction of an impressive round of golf that, having started at the 10^th, saw him just one-under-par at his halfway point. Three birdies at the first, fifth and seventh left him in command, and despite some inspired golf from the pack, Rodgers stayed on top to take the money.

Describing his round, Rodgers said: “It was a solid workman-like professional round in which I made the most of the few opportunities I made and played OK.”

He continued: “The course was in great shape, and Paul Schunter, Cuddington’s new Director of Golf and Operations deserves a lot of credit both for getting this event back on the schedule, and for making it a really memorable day for everyone involved, judging by the feedback from the members at our table in the evening.” Schunter enjoyed second spot in the team event behind Torie Blakemore (Pine Ridge), which meant he too enjoyed some of the limelight when it came to the prizes.

Having started at the first, Els was off to a good start with a deuce at the second. Pars followed on the next seven holes left him one-under at the turn, and then Els made another deuce at the 11^th to go two-under. Making what would prove to be his only bogey at the 14^th, Els added birdies at the 15^th and then the 17^th to get to reach three-under-par and in the runners up position with Atkinson and Gane.

Starting at the 10^th, Atkinson’s first nine was strewn with birdies at the 10^th and 11^th, spoiled by a six at the par-five 12^th. But while three more birdies followed at the 15^th, 17^th and 18^th to put him back in contention, dropped shots at the first and the seventh meant that despite one more birdie at the second, Atkinson carded just a 68.

Gane began at the first, looking to add to his recent win in the Kingswood Charity Pro-Am. Opening with a birdie four, two bogeys put Gane under pressure, which he relieved a little with a two at the short ninth. Level-par with all to play for, Gane eagled the par-five 12^th and birdied the 14^th on his way to his card of 68.

Rodgers is now looking forward to his next appearance, the Westcoast Pro-Am at Bearwood Lakes, and then in two weeks’ time, the next Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit event, the PGA Surrey Open Championship at Kingswood.