Stunning 63 sets Cort on way to Midlands Masters victory

Rothley Park’s Matthew Cort (above) shot a stunning first round 63 to set up his second Midlands Masters victory.

Cort added a second round of 66 to finish three shots clear of Sutton Coldfield’s Andrew Cheese at Kedleston Park.

Simon Lilly (Wellingborough) was a shot further back as Cort added this year’s Masters title to the one he won in 2007.

The Leicestershire golfer got off to a flying start with four birdies and an eagle on the front nine of his first round. He added four birdies with a just the one blemish for his 63 in the morning to take a one-shot lead over Lilly.

In the afternoon he notched another seven birdies with just the one bogey to keep his rivals at arms length.

Cort said: “It’s a cracking tournament and we’ve played on a great course. I love the course and it’s the second time I’ve won it now. It’s not a walkover this course but it does produce low scores.”

He added: “It was low scoring in the Pro-Am so I didn’t know what to expect. The course is pretty soft with the greens so that’s why the scoring is so low. It is probably some of the best golf I’ve played over 36 holes, I had a couple of bogeys but I kept in play and tried to hole some putts and it equals my best ever score.

“My iron shots were good you’ve got to hit the fairways then with the soft conditions you can really fire it in there. I was seven under after 10 holes but you’re still wary because one bad shot can ruin it. It is brilliant to win it again and I’m chuffed.”

The win took Cort to the top of the PGA in England (Midlands) Order of Merit standings with 615 points but he is only five points clear of Lilly. Third place is held by South Staffordshire’s Peter Baker on 500, with Lincoln Golf Centre’s Paul Streeter (495) and Cheese (490) completing the top five.

The top three players at the end of the season will qualify for the Titleist PGA Play-Offs on the PGA Sultan Course, at Antalya Golf Club, Turkey.