Stokes takes Channel Islands title
05/05/2017
Braving gale force five to six winds around two of the UK’s more exposed links, La Moye and Royal Jersey, the English Boys and Channel Islands amateur champion from La Moye, Jason Stokes, made his mark amongst the PGA Professionals, shooting 149 to claim victory.
La Moye’s Michael Lavers and Royal Jersey’s James O’Doherty came close to sharing that elusive top spot, but both bogeyed the final hole to miss out on a three way tie. Finishing in the runners up spot, each had the consolation of taking home cheques for £462.
Regional secretary of The PGA in England (South) Sam Smith commented: “This was a real test of golf, patience and sheer skill under very tough conditions. The courses were in fine shape, but the greens were really fast and firm, examining every aspect of the players’ games.”
He continued: “This event has acquired some real pedigree now, and clearly it’s attracting top talent to play at two of our best links courses. So we’re going to see what we can do to make the 2018 event even bigger and better.”
With both courses dry, fast and firm thanks to one of the driest Aprils on record, and some of the windiest conditions that have blown through Jersey recently, even the best efforts of Stokes and the PGA Professionals couldn’t overcome the problems set them, first by Royal Jersey and then La Moye.
“It was starting to become a game of hanging on as best you could,” said Lavers, “and while we’re all used to windy weather round here, yesterday and today it was coming from a particularly difficult direction which made some of the holes either unreachable or nigh impossible to stay on the green!”
Off plus three handicap, Stokes’ appearance added a welcome touch of amateur class to the event. His second and final round was played at La Moye, and he made just one bogey at the ninth after an error-free run.
Around the turn the wind got the better of Stokes’s golf, but birdies at the 12th and 14th repaired most of the damage, and while he dropped a shot at the 16th, two terrific pars down the 17th and 18th secured a deserved one shot victory.
