Talbott’s late entry pays off

Last-minute entrant Mark Talbott came out on top in the Essex PGA pro-am at the Wildernesse Golf Club in Kent.

The Thorpe Hall assistant’s decision to travel to Sevenoaks was vindicated as he came away with 38 Stableford points to claim the Eddie Sadler Trophy as the leading professional.

Talbott had three points to spare over joint runners-up John Judd (Hartswood) and Terry Moncur (Langdon Hills). Andy Pestell (Chelmsford) and Mitch Kierstenson (Penfold Park) were joint fourth with 34 points. Steve Cipa (South Essex Golf Centre) was sixth with 33 points and Mark Bishop (Toot Hill) seventh with 32.

Moncur led the winning team of Chris Rate and Rob Disom with 79 points. Rate won the President’s Cup as leading amateur with 37 points. Team runners-up were former PGA European Tour star Mark Davis (Thorndon Park), Paul Smith and Jim Harris with 73 points. Pestell, Lawrie Baker and Steve Coventry were third with 71.

The Wildernesse Golf Club is currently preparing to host an Open regional qualifier in 2015.