Taverner notches breakthrough victory

James Taverner recorded the biggest victory of his career with near-perfect golf at the Weston Homes plc Royal Cromer Classic.

Taverner, who has just completed his PGA apprenticeship, won by no less than five shots after rounds of 69 and 67 took him to eight-under-par.

It was a superb display from the Hendon assistant as he didn’t drop a single shot to the card over the 36 holes.

Taverner, 28, played on the ultra-competitive American collegiate golf circuit when studying at Southeastern Louisiana University. During that time he beat a high-class field (including current European Tour star Danny Willett) in the 2007 Carter Plantation Inter Collegiate.

“That was a proud moment as well and I think it has taken until this to surpass it,” said Taverner. “This is my 16^th order of merit event and my first win. I’d been knocking on the door and am delighted to break through.

“I was very patient. I didn’t feel any rush from the moment I left the house on Sunday afternoon until the end. I was in control of the ball most of the time and it has been a very enjoyable two days on a beautiful and well presented golf course.”

Taverner, whose previous best finish in an Order of Merit was a tie for third in the 2012 Weston Homes plc Bishop’s Stortford Classic, began the final day two shots behind the overnight leader Luke Eggleston (Loughton).

By the fifth hole, he was tied at the top after a birdie with Eggleston having dropped a stroke at the previous hole. Taverner clicked through the gears with back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth, assuming full control by picking up another shot at the 11^th.

A healthy lead became an all but unassailable one when he made a two at the short 17^th, allowing him to enjoy the walk and the views at the North Norfolk cliff-top course as he came down the final hole.

There was a three-way share of second place as Crue Elliott (Sandy Lodge), David Bunker (Stanmore) and Roger Gray (Thorndon Park) all finished on three-under-par. Elliott notched six birdies in his second round of 69, helping him to a second successive runner-up finish in an Order of Merit event.

As well as Taverner, the other ‘winner’ of the two days was the immaculately-conditioned Royal Cromer course. It drew a series of compliments, including on social media, from the players and the PGA in England (East) regional secretary John Smith said: “Royal Cromer has developed into one of the finest courses in the region and has staged two days of superb golf.”

The next Order of Merit event in the region is the PGA East Anglian Open, which will take place at Basildon GC from September 15-16.