Three way split at Betchworth

With all three shooting rounds of 68, Tim Milford (PGolfCoaching@Pedham) shared victory in the Betchworth Park Pro-Am with southern stars James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) and Michael Lowe (Leatherhead).

Taking home a cheque for £900 each, the trio edged out Martin Woodbridge (Bearwood Lakes) and the region’s most recent winner Chris Croucher (East Sussex National) who both shot cards of level-par. Milford is something of a Betchworth Park specialist, as he’s played in the pro-am three times, won twice and placed second on the other occasion.

As he commented: “The conditions were virtually perfect and the course was in great shape, so I was expecting someone to come in with a much lower score. I haven’t played many competitive events this year as my main focus is on managing and teaching at Pedham Place, but the results I’ve enjoyed have been very rewarding and sharing the podium today with two of the region’s top players is a great result!”

With six wins so far this year and a third place in last week’s PGA Southern Open Championship, Ablett continues to find some rich form, while Lowe’s return to the winner’s circle marks a welcome change following a back injury that interrupted his winning ways for several months.

Milford and Ablett both made five birdies and four bogeys on their way to their 68s, while Lowe’s card was the most consistent of the three with just the one mistake at the second and two birdies at the ninth and the 11^th.

Milford started at the 11^th and was two-over-par after the 16^th, but birdies in quick succession on the 18^th and the first got him back to even par, only to drop another at the second. He reeled off birdies at the fifth and seventh, but a stumble at the eighth put him back in the pack on par again. A welcome birdie at the par-five ninth followed by a steady par left him in pole position.

Level-par after his first nine holes, Ablett’s round was in good shape with birdies at the second and seventh to give him a chance of snatching the lead, and the dropped shot at the eighth was quickly repaired with a birdie at the ninth, but a bogey at his final hole left Ablett sharing the lead with Lowe and Milford.