Wootton makes up lost ground to win the PGA Kent Open Championship

18/08/2021

Adam Wootton posted a five under par round of the day before defeating Guy Woodman in a play-off at Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich, to win the PGA Kent Open Championship supported by ARC.

The tournament at the onetime Open Championship venue was played over the Shore and Dunes courses and was the third CK Facilities Management PGA South Order of Merit event of the season.

Wootton, who represents Core Golf Ltd and played in the 2011 Open Championship at nearby Royal St George’s, had begun the second and final round six shots off the lead.

However, he ended it level with ProAgenda.com’s Woodman and claimed the £2,000 winner’s cheque at the first play-off hole.

The victory elevates him to third in the CK Facilities Management PGA South Order of Merit while Woodman has replaced Lewis Atkinson in pole position.

Atkinson had led the tournament at the start of the final day, his four under par 68 giving him a one-shot advantage over a congested leaderboard.

But the 42-year-old, who won the previous Order of Merit event at Cuddington Golf Club, was unable to replicate that and ended tied-fourth after posting a three over par round of 75.

Wootton, by contrast, fired three birdies in the first five holes to halve the six-shot deficit and go one-under for the tournament.

The 34-year-old had teed off almost an hour-and-a-half before the pacemakers and birdies at the 13^th and then the par-three 17^thmade him the clubhouse leader at three-under.

Around 45 minutes later, he would be joined by Woodman, who was also only one of five players to break par on a tough day around the 7,029-yard links layout.

His performance was all the more impressive as he finished with three birdies and an eagle in his last seven holes to move from two over to three under and a sudden death showdown with Wootton.

That took place on the Dunes course and Wootton prevailed at the par-four first courtesy of a classy chip from the edge of the green to set up the par he needed for victory. The win was Wootton’s second of 2021, following his Badgemore Park Pro-Am success.