Winfield’s wonderful 63 blows field apart

Joe Winfield is the new 2013 Assistants & Trainees Champion in The PGA in England (South).

The Abbey Hill assistant, runner up last year, shot a stunning closing round of 63 for a total of 14-under-par 132 at the Drift GC to win this year’s championship, supported by Nikon.

After carding 69 in the morning, Winfield’s immaculate round of 63 outclassed everyone to finish three shots in front of the nearest competitors.

With his winner’s cheque for £800 and first major professional title, he said: “This is a major stepping stone for me and after qualifying earlier this year, I’m setting all sorts of new targets for myself.” Winfield’s victory means he now shares the lead with Michael Lowe (Leatherhead) for the Nikon Assistants & Trainees 2013 Order of Merit.

Having set himself a target of eight birdies in the afternoon round, Winfield simply overwhelmed the opposition, leaving the trio of Ben O’Dell (Best4Balls Limited), Mark Hillson (Tandridge), and Robert Gowers (South Winchester) in his wake despite them shooting 11-under-par 135.

Opening with 69s, they all shot seven-under-par 66s, only to watch Winfield romp home.  Hillson also picked up another cool £250 for being the leading Nikon player using his Nikon COOLSHOT laser range finder.

Winfield was four shots behind the first round leader Nick Drane (Prince’s) after shooting a four-under-par 69. After an opening birdie, six more in succession from the fifth to the 10th changed everything.

“The weather was very warm and the conditions were ideal for low scoring,” he said, “but the birdie run from the fifth to the 10th was amazing. By the 13th I’d achieved my target with five holes to go, so I still had some opportunities left.”

Winfield duly kept the pedal to the metal and with another two birdies at the 15th and 18th, he was unsurpassable.

He added: “I played nicely, kept the ball in business and created opportunities. I missed the 17th but made an easy chip and putt from the fringe of about 20 feet. All the birdie putts were inside 10 feet, and not three putting for the entire 36 holes was very satisfying.”

While playing in lots of BB&O events, Winfield’s sights are now set higher, as he said: “This win is a major boost to my confidence, and I’m really looking forward to raising my game and competing in the regional events.”

Winfield and Lowe are the current leaders of the Nikon Assistants & Trainees 2013 Order of Merit, but Hillson and O’Dell are right on their heels and Alexander MacGregor (Addington Court) is still in touch in fifth place. With MacGregor one of the semi-finalists in next week’s Assistant & Trainee Match Finals at Lee-on-the-Solent GC, there is everything to play for.