Rodgers makes it three in a row

The Sand Martins 25^th Anniversary Pro-Am was celebrated by a tie on five-under-par 65 between Richings Park’s Chris Rodgers and Oxford Golf Centre’s Adam Wootton. 

Making it three impressive wins in a row, Rodgers’ form continued in top gear, going out in two-under-par. Three birdies in quick succession put him on five-under with three holes left, two of them reachable par fives. A dropped shot at the 16^th threatened to scupper Rodger’s round, but an impressive deuce at the 17^th rescued the card for a 65. 

Wootton was one-under after dropping a shot at the ninth, but he soon found top gear with birdies at the 10^th, 12^th and 16^th. Needing one more at the par five 18th to be the clubhouse leader, Wootton duly made one more for his 65. 

Taking home £900 each, the victorious duo finished two clear of the grouping on three-under-par of Robert Daw (Effingham), James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent), Lewis Atkinson (Gerrards Cross) and evergreen Andy Raitt (St. George’s Hill). 

Raitt’s round included no less than eight birdies. Despite opening with a bogey he’d reached the 17^th tee in the lead on six-under-par, but Sand Martins duly took its revenge with Raitt dropping four very expensive strokes at the short 17^th. Showing true class, the star from St. Georges’ Hill picked himself up again to make a birdie down the last. 

The team event was won by Pine Ridge’s Martin Janssen and his team, pipping Raitt’s group by one to claim victory on 18-under-par.