Duo on road to success after birdie blitz

Matt Webb, left, will make sure he gets an up to date traffic report for this year’s final after he and Alex Belt finished as joint winners of the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship North qualifier at Woodsome Hall Golf Club.

Webb, of Northumberland’s Bedlingtonshire Golf Club, and Belt, of Snainton Golf Centre in Scarborough, formed part of a three way tie at the top of the leaderboard after carding an eight under par round of 62 at the Huddersfield venue.

They were joined by Jonathan Stacey and Martyn Stubbings  (Rockliffe Hall Hotel) and Scott Jackson Ian Ridgway (Disley Golf Club).

But Webb and Belt produced stunning back nine to come home in 28 after recording seven birdles.

The three victors will join nine other qualifiers for the £33,000 final which takes place on the Jack Nicklaus designed course at Carden Park in Cheshire between August 17-19.

And while Webb is enjoying a successful year after also reaching the final of the PGA Assistants Championship, he will not want a repeat of the Fourball Championship final of 12 months ago.

“I was playing with Adam Hodkinson, but we were disqualified after missing our tee time as we were stuck in traffic,” he said.

“We were doing okay too after the first round when we were five under par. So to miss out was very disappointing.

“So, 100 per cent, I want to go back to Carden Park to put that straight.”

Webb has been pleased with his game this year but admits it took him and Belt a while to get into their stride at Woodsome Hall.

“We just couldn’t get our putting right, although we started off with a birdie, it was the ninth hole before we really built up any momentum,” he said.

“After that, we were fine and made birdie after birdie so it worked out well.

“Adam couldn’t play this year so I’ve teamed up with Alex who I’ve known for a while. It’s good if you can partner someone you get on with in this event. And it’s one we both like playing in because the final venue is a good one with a strong field involved.”