Stunning 65 nets Glenmuir glory for Gareth

Big-hitting Gareth Wright boomed his way to a superb victory in the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship at De Vere Carden Park.

The West Linton pro's seven-under-par 65 on the last day of the £78,000 championship proved too hot for his rivals with his 17-under total leaving him four strokes clear of nearest challenger Craig Shave who carded his third 67.

Wright's flawless display, which yielded seven birdies and no bogeys, earned him a winner's cheque for £10,000, use of a Peugeot 208 car for a year and booked his place in the end of season Titleist PGA Play-Offs in Turkey where PGA pros compete for a number of European Tour starts.

Steve Parry (North West Golf Academy) surged through the field with a 66 to share fourth place at 11-under with Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) who carded a 70.

Wright began the day two shots adrift of leader John Dwyer but as he walked onto the third tee he was two ahead thanks to back-to-back birdies and successive bogeys from the Ashbourne pro.

It set the tone for the rest of the round with Wright overpowering the Nicklaus Course with some brilliant golf.

"I hit a good tee shot down the first but had a flier with the second and went over the green but chipped in for a dream start," he said.

"I then holed a nice putt on two and just stuck to my game plan all the week. A friend of the family, David Bunnell, caddied for me and he's been great on the bag and kept me focused.

"But a last round of 65 is the stuff of dreams. I came off yesterday and said to Dave six-under would be nice and I beat it by one.

"However, that score was on all week, the course is in good condition and we've been blessed by the weather.

"I didn't know how much of a lead I had coming up the last. A couple of clutch pars in the end were crucial. I holed a 20 footer on 11, which was big, and kept the momentum going.Then I got the wind wrong on 15 but still made par and once I got through it I knew there were a couple of birdies coming in."

His win also virtually guarantees him a place in next year's Great Britain & Ireland's PGA Cup team to face America at Slaley Hall and will prompt the Welsh-born pro to weigh up his options.

"I might have to reconsider some things because I was thinking of going to Tour school in a couple of weeks but PGA Cup was one of my goals," he added.

Meanwhile, Whetstone pro Shave headed back to the Midlands rueing a third round 74 but still took plenty of positives away with his performance, which also secured his spot in the PGA Play-Offs.

"I got off to a good start, missed four within 10 feet on the front nine but holed a few on the back nine," he said.

"I had a target in mind (14-under) but 17-under is a great effort by Gareth.

"Hopefully this can be the turning point for my season, I've been practising and working hard but not getting the results but this week it has all come together."