Tarver-Jones wins WPT Invitational

Peter Tarver-Jones shot a final-round 69 to claim his first HotelPlanner.com PGA Europro Tour title, winning the WPT Invitational by two shots at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent.

The Worthing golfer is playing his first year on Europe’s third-tier tour and his £10,000 win moves him inside the top 15 on the Race to El Gouna, from which the top five at the end of the season graduate to the Challenge Tour.

Miles Collins (Stoke by Nayland Golf Club) came second on six-under after a final round 69 (-3). Michael McGeady, Scott Fallon, Stuart Archibald and Kevin Harper shared third on five-under.

Tarver-Jones began the opening round one back from Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle), but his final-round playing partner carded a four-over 76 and finished the tournament tied 16^th on two-under-par.

“It is a tough front nine but I played really solid golf at the start of the round,” said Tarver-Jones, who wins a brand new Motocaddy trolley and Shotsaver range finder, as well as his £10,000.

“The putter was on fire front nine and that is key. I played with Darren in the first two rounds so I felt at ease with him and in a way I wasn’t thinking about any other players, just me and him. It was only with about four holes to play I considered other players and what position I was in.

“I tried to relax and have fun, which is easier said than done sometimes. When I hit the fairway up 18, which is a tough drive with a cross wind, that is when I knew I had won. The birdie on 17 was key, it is a really tough par-three so to birdie that was huge.

“It is huge to win. I have so much confidence going into the last two events so I feel like I can get into the top five, why not?

“I will stick to the same routine and focus and knuckle down next week now because you have to be ready for it, I can’t be overwhelmed by the win.

“This is my first season on the Europro and I have learnt a lot mentally. Suddenly you have a cut involved and when you are on the cut line it can be quite tough, but I have learnt to enjoy that.

“I have learnt to enjoy being on the cut line and try and push towards being ahead and being in the lead, which is why yesterday I shot a five-under going for the lead rather than just trying to make the cut.”

Highlights of the WPT Invitational will be broadcast on Sky Sports on Tuesday, September 2 with repeats the following day. The HotelPlanner.com PGA Europro Tour continues next week with the PDC & WSL Open at The Oxfordshire.