Wallis bags the UK’s biggest prize
15/07/2016
Richard Wallis, the four time Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit champion, shot a scorching six-under-par 66 to snatch victory at the Westcoast Pro-Am at Bearwood Lakes.
His impressive performance earned him the largest first prize in UK professional golf for a one-day tournament.
Taking home the winner’s cheque for £5,005, Wallis (Canterbury) was ecstatic, saying: “My form this year has been promising, and winning the PGA Prince’s 27 at the beginning of the month showed it was really coming together, but today’s result was largely down to the club’s PGA Professional, Martin Woodbridge.”
Wallis’s 66 edged out local man Woodbridge by a stroke, but the Bearwood Lakes’ PGA Head Professional still earned a handy £1,500. Recent winner James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) was third with a four-under-par 68 for £1,250.
Wallis added: “I’d never played here, so Martin and I had a practice round the day before. He told me where to hit it and gave me a swing tip as well, so I’d just like to say ‘Martin, thanks - and apologies!’ ”
Starting at the 10th Wallis birdied the 11th and despite the increasing strength of the gusts and an occasional squall, he then charged through the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th to reach five-under-par.
A bogey at the 18th was disappointing, and pars followed on the next four holes before he got into his birdie stride once again at the fifth, sixth and eighth to reach seven-under.
A bogey at Wallis’s finishing hole was a bit of a card spoiler, but his 66 was good enough to claim victory in one of the biggest and best PGA Pro-Ams in UK.
Woodbridge opened with four birdies out of the first five holes and then made two more at the 10th and 11th to get to six-under. But bogeys at the 12th and the 15th dropped him back to four-under. Despite a birdie at the 16th, Woodbridge could only par the last two holes to finish on 67.
James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) showed more good form, dropping just one shot and making three birdies and an eagle for his card of 68 and a handsome cheque.
Woodbridge’e team, which included Bearwood Lakes’ chairman Gary Holloway, used their own local knowledge to claim first prize in the team event with a magnificent 90 points.
Director of Golf, Jon Dry, commented: “The Pro-Am is a flagship event for Bearwood Lakes** and the biggest Pro-Am on the PGA South’s schedule as well.
"This event gives us another terrific opportunity to showcase this fantastic club and its Top 100 course to over 200 golfers, and help spread the word about the quality of service we provide at Bearwood Lakes, and the all-round experience.
“The strength of the professional field that this Pro-Am attracts is always pretty impressive, with all the top regional players competing, plus a very welcome appearance by Matt Ford (CK Group) in the middle of his hectic European Tour schedule.”
