South Winchester edge through after tight finish

South Winchester Golf Club won through to Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro Captain Challenge after a nail-biting South West qualifying event.

Captain Malcolm Berryman and PGA Professional Richard Adams took the honours at Broadstone Golf Club - but only after a virtual match play re-run to decide the winners after they tied with Paul Mitchell and Peter Simpson from Bristol & Clifton Golf Club.

Both pairings recorded eight-under-par rounds of 62 at the Dorset venue. And they each had identical front and back nine scores.

That meant the event had to be decided by comparing the opening holes of the round which saw South Winchester edge through as they started with four birdies compared to Bristol & Clifton’s three.

Berryman and Adams will now play in the £25,000 final which takes place at Spanish destination Lumine Mediterranea Beach & Golf Community.

The resort, which features two Greg Norman designs, will stage the event over 36 holes from Wednesday, November 30 - Thursday, December 1.

“Richard was confident we’d still won it, but I didn’t share that confidence,” smiled 12-handicapper Berryman.

“I wasn’t sure we’d done enough on the back nine. But I was very relieved to get through. The one thing I didn’t want was extra holes.”

Company director Berryman, aged 61, praised his professional playing partner for getting them over the line.

“Richard was very solid, I didn’t know the course and he’d only played it some time ago. We chose this venue as it was nearer to us than the South qualifying round.”

Adams admitted the final outcome was tough on the losing duo.

”It was unbelievable really, it took some time to go through the rule book and work out that we’d done it, but I thought we’d won when I looked back at the two cards,” said Adams (pictured right).

“In these days of computers you can look back and see who’s done what. But I felt very sorry for the losing team as it was so close.

“I’ve been to this final before, but not for 20 years. It was 1996 when I last played in it so I’m looking forward to going back.”