|
The PGA West Region Players Championship is being held at Cumberwell Park on 19-20th July and home player and Wiltshire past Captain Ali James was playing as a guest. First group out, 10 birdies and one careless three putt bogey later Ali set a new course record and leads all the Pros by two shots going into the second day. Full details can be found here and the story on the PGA website is re-produced below. |
 |
|
HOME JAMES FIRES COURSE RECORD 62 TO LEAD PRO'S
On a fine day for scoring when 43 players equaled or broke par, Cumberwell Park's Manager Ali James showed the Professional field the way around his home course with a magnificent course record setting 62. His 9 under par total bettered his own best by 2 strokes and could have been even better but for a bogey at 13 after a careless 3 putt and a missed opportunity at the par 5 11th.
The Wilshire County player was delighted after his round and said, "I only switched to a new set of Titleist irons yesterday in the Pro-Am and I decided to keep them in the bag today." They worked beautifully as he hit approach shots all around the flag throughout the day. He finished in style with 3 closing birdies including a 25 foot putt at the last.
Some of the leading Race to Woodbury Park Professional's faired well and will undoubtedly challenge James for the title tomorrow. Downes Crediton's Barry Austin will be looking for a second title of the year after a 67. Lee Thomson (Dudsbury), Paul Hendricksen (Dinnaton GC) and Chris Gill (Exeter GCC) all went one better with 66's. The current Race to Woodbury Park leader's faultless bogey free round included birdies at 4,5,6,10 and 17.
Cotswold Hills PGA Professional Rod Hibbitt finds himself in second place after an excellent 64. His 8 birdie round was only spoilt by a lone bogey at the second hole. He will be hoping for another good round tomorrow after contending at Oake Manor in the Total Triumph Classic earlier in the year which was claimed by Barry Austin in a playoff with Paul Hendricksen.
Play was threatened by a 45 minutes after a torrential thunderstorm at 2.30pm flooded a number of greens. Thankfully a combination of Cumberwell Park's quick draining greens and our hard working PGA staff working alongside the Cumberwell Park Greenkeepers enabled play to resume in double quick time.
James will attempt to become the first Amateur to win a PGA West Region event since Welsh international Llewellyn Matthews won at St Pierre a number of years ago.
The inaugural Cumberwell Park PGA West Region PGA Players Championship concludes tomorrow (Wednesday).