Season tees off in style at Prince's Winter Series

Two Titleist & FootJoy Winter Series events at Prince's launched the PGA in England (South)’s 2017 season, with Effingham’s Robert Daw, Calcot Park’s Alex Lodge, and Littlestone’s Charlie Wilson ascending the winners' podium.

Based on two rounds on consecutive days over different combinations of Prince’s 27 holes, on day one Daw and Lodge revelled in the calm conditions, both shooting 5-under-par 67s to tie for victory. 

Reflecting Prince’s superb playing condition, their stunning scores were too good for Littlestone’s Charlie Wilson, Royal Mid-Surrey’s Oscar Granstrom Livesey and Leatherhead’s Michael Lowe, all of whom shot otherwise impressive three-under-par rounds of 69.

With Lodge in the group behind Daw, it was a battle royal from the start. Daw set a furious pace going birdie, eagle at the two opening holes and made a birdie at the fourth to go four-under. Lodge managed to stay in sight by making his own birdies on the fourth, the sixth and seventh. 

Daw bogeyed the 6^th but deuced the par three eighth to stay one shot ahead of Lodge at the turn. Lodge then birdied the 12^th and 13^th to go one shot ahead, but a birdie two at the 16^th from Daw levelled the game. Pars down the last two holes left them tied and two shots clear of the pack.

Everything changed on day two with misty and blowy conditions, and it was Littlestone’s Charlie Wilson who came out on top with a two-under-par 69. He picked up the £300 first prize, edging out Canterbury’s former four time Order of Merit champion Richard Wallis into second place by a stroke.

One-under at the turn, Wilson eagled the 16^th and despite bogeying the 17th, he stayed in front of Wallis whose bogey at the same hole cost him a share of the lead.

When it came to the Leading Assistants’ prizes, Lodge’s flawless round of five birdies earned him the Leading Assistant’s prize of a ball, glove and shoe contract with Titleist & FootJoy. Wilson’s eagle proved equally valuable, and thanks to Titleist & FootJoy both players are now setup nicely for 2017.

Commenting on the year ahead, regional secretary Sam Smith said, “The 2017 season is going to demand even higher standards from every player. I’m delighted that the region’s success is providing attractive, enjoyable and challenging events for our PGA Members.”

“Once again, our Pro-Am and Professional events will be held on some of the UK’s finest courses, and with a few more Winter Series events before the season starts in earnest, the signs are looking very positive for 2017”