Ablett ends up sharing after bogey at final hole
David Copsey (DCGS Poult Wood) and James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) both returned to their winning ways by sharing the top prize at the Puttenham Pro-Am with rounds of three-under-par 68*.
With seven wins and a lot of top ten placings in 2016, Copsey is enjoying a good season and is currently seventh in the PGA South Money List standings**, while in third place last year’s Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit champion Ablett is having an even better season with 13 wins to date.
The southern duo edged the 69 of Kyle Kelsall (Quin Direct) into the runner’s up spot, while James Johnson (Bramley) with four birdies, an eagle, three bogeys and a double, and Alexander MacGregor (Addington Court) with four birdies offset by three bogeys, both had up and down rounds for their 70s.
Starting at the 17th, Copsey bogeyed the second to go one-over-par, but an eagle at the par four third more than repaired the damage and birdies at the sixth and 11th got him to three-under. He nearly undid all the good work with a double bogey on the 12th, but two more birdies on the trot at the 14th and 15th set him up with his 68.
In front of him starting on the 18th, Ablett made birdie at the first and then like Copsey went bogey, eagle at the second and third, and another birdie at the ninth put him on three-under. Then the putter cooled off until the 16th where he got a stroke ahead of Copsey with a birdie at the 16th, only to give it back with a bogey at his last hole - and of course losing out on the prospect of taking the top prize for himself.
Commenting on his golf, Ablett said, “Things have been going quite nicely this year, maybe not as well as last year but that’s golf. Hitting a flyer from the middle of the fairway and airmailing the last green to make bogey and tie with David just underlines my point!”
He continued, “But I’m still in the Keith MacDonald PGA South Match Play***, and there’s the Crisp Thinking Farnham Finale OOM****, so if I produce my best form I’m still in with a chance of going to Saunton for the PGA Play Offs.”