Six of the very best

The West Hill Pro-Am provided that rarity, a six way tie where each of The PGA’s southern stars turned in cards of 68.

Shooting one-under-par, Guy Woodman (East Berks), Gary Marks (World of Golf), Craig Cowper (Surrey Downs), Benn Barham (PGolfCoaching@Pedham), Andy Raitt (St. George’s Hill) and Paul Newman (East Berks) shaded the level-par rounds of Paul Creamer (Foxhills) and Michael Hart (Nevill) into seventh place.

While each player was rewarded with a cheque for £900, all went about their respective 68s in various ways. Woodman shot four birdies and three bogeys, while Marks shot six birdies and five bogeys, three of them over the last five holes. Cowper had three birdies and two bogeys, while Barham had just two bogeys, an eagle and a birdie.

Raitt had the nearest thing to a bogey-free round, dropping a shot at the 11^th but scoring a birdie on each nine, while Newman had his three bogeys on the first four holes and then shot four birdies in the last eight.

After the long spell of dry weather, conditions at West Hill were a little more challenging, but as Barham pointed out: “The course was in great condition, not too firey, but it was quite windy and with all the trees and swirling breezes, that made judging the distances and picking the right club much harder.

“It was my first time round West Hill and everything I’ve heard about it is true. Besides being very scenic, it’s a super test of golf. It was a great day all round - especially for the six of us! The hospitality was fantastic, and I’m really looking forward to playing there again in the future.”

Woodman, fresh from a winning 62 in a Pro-Am in Switzerland, was delighted to share the six-way win at West Hill, adding: “My early form hasn’t been too hot this year, but winning yesterday and then here has put a lot more self-belief back into my season.

“The forecast the day before the pro-am was terrible, so it was great to find we had what turned out to be a really nice day weather-wise, while the overnight rain took some of the fire out of the greens.

“West Hill’s always one of the trickier tests of golf, but this time the pin positions were kinder than usual, which may explain why we all crowded together on one-under-par!

“I played nicely, dropped one or two silly shots, and while I think we were all expecting someone to come in with a lower score, we all enjoyed another cracking event at West Hill.”