Wallis fires winning salvo at Blackheath

Four-time Virgin Atlantic Little Red PGA South Order of Merit champion Richard Wallis (North Foreland) has made his intentions clear posting a birdie-packed three-under-par 67 to snatch victory in the Royal Blackheath Pro-Am from Chris Gane (Lefthandedgolf at Silvermere).

Playing with the sponsor’s team, Wallis’ performance earned him the winner’s cheque of £850, while Gane walked away with £600 for his day’s work.

Starting at the 12th in a shotgun start, Gane went eagle birdie at the 12th and 13th to claim an early lead, but while his only bogey at the 17th left him on two-under-par, he was unable to improve on that over the remaining 12 holes.

Starting at the 10th, Wallis by contrast was charging through the back nine, chalking up a salvo of birdies at the 12th, 13th, 16th and 18th, with the one bogey spoiling a very fast start. Another birdie at the second left him on four-under-par, and despite a bogey at the eighth, Wallis remained uncatchable by a strong field.

Wallis (pictured) has already showed some early form this year, winning the four round Golf Escapes Costa del Sol Overseas PGA Pro-Am back in late February and string of places no worse than sixth in all the regional events he’s played so far in 2014.

He commented: “I’ve been working hard with my coaches and fellow PGA Professionals: Paul Page at King’s Hill for my swing, Matt Johns at Royal Blackheath for my putting, and Ben Clayton (Hindhead) for my short game.

“The win in Spain was a real early season boost. I played well again here at Royal Blackheath and stuck to the game plan. It’s a course I really enjoy and as usual it was in fantastic conditions with terrific greens but some very tricky pins. Although they were the only real mistakes I made today, the two bogeys show there’s still room for improvement.”

Wallis aims to take his form in to two-day The Wildernesse Order of Merit supported by KRL which teed off today at the Sevenoaks club – Wildernesse.

It is the second major event of the 2014 Virgin Atlantic Little Red PGA South Order of Merit schedule, and the first time the Kent club, a qualifying course for The Open, has hosted a major tournament for the region’s top players.

Home PGA Head Professional David Green has high expectations for the course and the team behind it. “Wildernesse will be a huge contrast to the links challenge faced by the players at Prince’s,” he said, “but as one of Kent’s top inland courses it will still present a stern challenge to the region’s best, and the club is working hard to make sure it will be a memorable experience.”