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Following yesterday's story of an amazing 62 by Ali to lead the PGA Players Championship around his home course at Cumberwell, setting a new course record, Ali followed up today with a 1 under par 70 to clinch the title by a single shot. Coming up the last 1 shot ahead, Ali favoured a 2 iron from the tee for safety but pulled it 150 yards short with trees on his line. Judging a 9 iron would just clear the trees Ali gave it the full monty and reached the green, 30 feet below the hole. First putt, uphill, still 5 feet short, but with the home crowd more nervous than he was he calmly holed out for a fantastic win. The first time an amateur has beaten the pros for many years in the West Region. Well played Ali, bring on the County Finals! |
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Ali receives the PGA Players Championship Trophy from Glenn Ross, Secretary of the PGA and Cumberwell head pro, John Jacobs |
Story from the PGA West website below
JAMES HANGS ON TO WIN AS PRO'S CHALLENGE
Cumberwell Park Manager and Wiltshire County Amateur beat off a strong field of the West and South Wales PGA Professionals in the inaugural Cumberwell PGA West Region Players Championship to become the first Amateur to claim a PGA West Region title since Llewellyn Matthews won at St Pierre in 2005 . He managed a second round, one under par round of 70 and sealed his victory with a birdie at the tough par 3 16th where water lurked for any errant shot and a gutsy two putt at the last to win after a slightly errant tee shot.
James was delighted both with his win and with the Tournament. "I was delighted to play well, I was really just having a warm up for next weeks English Amateur at Woburn and for the English County Finals at Ganton later in the year. Playing well at Saunton in South West week has really spurred me on ."
He faced a charging field throughout the day with Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre), Martin Stimson (Ashburnham) both making challenges with fine 6 under pr 65's. The Region's form player got to 9 under for the tournament before some putting difficulties saw him bogey the 15th and 16th and miss chances at the final two holes. Whilst Stimson's round saw him tie for 9th, Watson tied for 4th alongside Stuart Little (Michinhampton) , Barry Austin (Downes Crediton), Matthew Dearden (Vale of Glamorgan) and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury).
Thompson led with 5 holes to play after 6 birdies form the 2nd to the 11th saw him climb to 10 under par for the tournament. His challenge crumbled with disappointing late bogies at 14, 15 and 18.
Rod Hibbitt (Cotswold Edge) finished 3rd after a solid 70 but back to back bogies at 1 & 2 and 14 & 15 proved costly as he finished 2 back on 8 under par. He couldn't quite match his 64 of the day before.
Dinnaton's Paul Hendricksen continued his steady form for his second Race to Woodbury Park event runner up finish of the year, after an excellent round of 67. 5 birdies in the first 11 holes saw him get to 9 under par however he struggled to find the speed of the greens on the final holes, leaving putts for birdie at 17 and 18 agonisingly short. He will have the consolation of winners money and points as James is ineligible to claim them as an amateur. Hendricksen vowed to claim an Order of Merit Title soon and will be one to watch in the remaining events, especially at Saunton in his home County at the Marston's West Region Championship in just under a month.
The Race to Woodbury Park points leader coming into the event, Chris Gill fell away with a frustrating 73 whist much of the field made progress. He finished in a tie for 14th.
The Race to Woodbury Park continues at it's 5th event of the season at the Forest Classic at Forest of Dean and Forest Hills Golf Clubs on 2nd / 3rd August