Woodbridge duo secure ‘home’ win

Rob Salter (Woodbridge) and amateur partner Norman Dolby produced a superb birdie-birdie finish to win the Marston’s Beer Co PGA Autumn Classic on countback at their home course.

The duo were six points back in a tie for 20th place after the opening day’s Stableford greensomes at Felixstowe Ferry.

But they put together a stunning second round under better-ball rules to amass no less than 47 points for an overall tally of 84.

Teeing off from the third, Salter gave them a flying start with a driver and 3-wood to five feet to set up an eagle.

But the knock-out blow was delivered by15-handicapper Dolby who got up and down from almost within the water at their closing hole – the par-4 second.

Dolby hit a 30-yard pitch from where he stood inches from a pond. There was still work to do with the putter but he made his four-net-three – and that proved decisive.

Salter, 21, said: “Norman putted brilliantly. It was nice to see him make the winning putt on our last hole – it was a great up and down with virtually one foot in the water! He got it to 15 foot and rolled the putt straight in the middle of the hole. It was a brilliant two days and was great coming from tied 20th after day one to win it.”

The victory added to what is becoming a fine autumn for Salter, which has just started the second year of his PGA Foundation Degree. Last month he won the Dell Bower Trophy for his play-off victory in the Suffolk PGA Trainees’ Championship at Hintlesham.

The runners-up Crue Elliott (Sandy Lodge) and amateur partner Ben Garcia also played brilliantly over the two days – as indicated by their scores of 41 and 43. In third were Steve Cipa (South Essex Golf Centre) and Glen Langenberg on 82 points.