Popular PGA Professional from The Ridge is victorious despite final hole bogey
Scott Stevens (Ridge) shot a four-under-par 67* to take the top spot in the Cuddington Pro-Am and claim one of the largest winner’s cheques on the 2017 schedule, a cool £2,000.
With the Virgin Atlantic PGA Southern Open Championship** played at Cuddington on the 10th and 11th July, the Pro-Am on the 9th showcased the PGA Professional talent competing over the following two days to find the new Southern champion.
As Stevens commented: “PGA Head Professional Paul Schunter and his team have been doing a terrific job to get everything into top shape for the Pro-Am and the PGA Southern Open, and Cuddington looks spectacular.”
Stevens started at the first and made no mistakes for 17 holes, making five birdies on his way to the 18th tee. Two in the lead, his last hole bogey didn’t prove expensive, as the same hole proved just as tough for his nearest rivals.
Three players – Leatherhead’s Michael Lowe, Royal Wimbledon’s Richard Edginton and Cooden Beach’s Paul Nessling - pushed Stevens all the way to the finishing line, and if Lowe had made par at the 18th, things might have been very different. But after reaching the turn in three-under and making it four after the 10th, slips at the 16th and the 18th proved costly as he carded a 68.
Likewise Edginton was in the fray again, yet despite two eagles at the first and the 12th, and two deuces at the fourth and 13th, his three bogeys at the sixth and seventh and then again at the 14th would move him back into second place and a tie.
Starting at the 10th Nessling turned in par and made three birdies in quick succession to set up a winning prospect, but pars followed all the way to the last hole, putting him in the runners up group as well. But with each getting cheques for nearly £1,000, no-one was going home without a big smile on their face.
In the team event Brad Skeates led his amateurs to a memorable victory with -19 and a total of 123, edging out Max Williams’s team on -18.