Webber wins at Essendon

James Webber (Three Rivers Golf & Country Club) secured a second Order of Merit title after the Weston Homes East Region Championship was hit by severe weather.

Electrical activity and heavy rain forced the players off the course at Essendon Country Club late on the second day with the leaders barely halfway through their round.

Play was swiftly abandoned and the tournament was decided by first-round scores, headed by Webber’s superb eight-under-64.

It was a desperate shame that the stormy conditions intervened as a hugely exciting finale looked to be on the cards.

Andrew Pestell (Chelmsford), Ian Campbell (Cheshunt Park), Jason Levermore (Channels) and David Griffiths (West Herts) were all laying down strong challenges.

But they would still have had to pass Webber, who remained in front throughout the final day. Indeed, he had just birdied the 10th and had two par-5s to play when the klaxon sounded to call a halt to proceedings.

The 24-year-old’s golf had been near faultless for a round and a half – bar one poor drive on the 8th hole on day two.

In the first round he bagged two eagles and six birdies in recording a 64 – a score he has only surpassed once previously in tournament play.

 “I hit it very consistently,” reflected Webber on his first-round heroics. “I only missed one green in 18 holes. And then the putter started to get hot in the middle. I rolled a couple of eagles in – from probably 15, 20 foot I guess – which was nice.

“We’ve got a very strong region and it is pushing us all to play better – play harder. So it’s a great feeling to come out on top. It’s good for your confidence.”

Webber, who last year won the Weston Homes Bishop’s Stortford Classic, is now up to second in the Order of Merit race. The top three will qualify for the prestigious end-of-year PGA Play Offs in Turkey and Campbell remains in top spot.

The Scot was able to look back on a very satisfactory seven-under round of 65 – tying his best effort for 18 holes as a professional. However, it could have been one shot better as he dropped a stroke at the final hole – a lengthy par-3.

Campbell said: “I wasn’t sure if I was going to try and hit a high one or a low one in and didn’t commit to either and bogeyed the last. But I still thought I would be leading and coming in and seeing James at eight-under was a bit of a surprise.”

Campbell increased his lead at the top of the Order of Merit to just over 100 points with two events remaining. The fourth of five in the series takes place at East Herts Golf Club on August 8-9.