TURKISH DELIGHT FOR JON BEVAN
IN BEKO CLASSIC AT ANTALYA

By DENNIS SHAW
Press Officer, PGAs of Europe
PGA Cup star Jon Bevan, pictured right, celebrated his debut in PGAs of Europe events with a play-off victory over twice-a-previous winner, Simon Edwards, in the Beko Classic international pro-am on the Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club in southern Turkey.
With the warm Turkish sun already set behind the mountain backdrop and darkness falling fast, the 40-year-old English player sank a 7ft putt at the second extra hole after his Welsh opponent had missed by barely an inch from only a foot further out.
The third and final day of the 54-hole tournament was again marked by some sparkling golf as the leaders finished on 14-under-par 199 after Bevan had closed the overnight gap with a five-under-par 66.
A lengthy wait in the clubhouse led to a return to the course for Bevan as Edwards finished on 68. With his experience of two past wins in the Beko event, Edwards appeared to have the edge… especially with Bevan confessing to shortfall of some 25 yards off the tee.
“I’ve always been a little short of distance with my long game but my short game compensates for it,” he stressed. And when the crunch came so it did….along with his medium irons!
A 187yd four-iron arrowed in on the flag in the gathering gloom and when Edwards failed by a fraction with his putt Bevan's short game did the rest.
“I feel just great, fantastic,” he added. “It’s a terrific event at a wonderful location, a fabulous place. I’ll maybe come back again next year if I get the chance.”
Although Bevan ‘appeared from under the radar’ to take part in this event, he has an impressive record for a club and teaching pro at Wessex Golf Centre, Weymouth in Dorset with limited opportunities to play tournament golf. He has played in the last two Open Championships at Carnoustie (where he played all four rounds and won £10,2000 for joint 63rd placing) and Hoylake and also played in the previous Carnoustie Open.
Third place went to last year’s winner, Liam Bond, who finished on 11-under par with a closing round of 67 while Paul Simpson was fourth alongside another past winner Erol Simsek on seven under.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71).
Players from England unless stated.
199 J Bevan 68 65 66, S Edwards (Wal) 65 66 68. Bevan won at second hole of sudden death play-off.
202 L Bond (Wales) 67 68 67.
206 E Simsek (Ger) 69 67 70, P Simpson 68 68 70.
207 Z Martinez (Ita) 68 69 70.
208 J Harrison 69 66 73, D Muscroft (Ita) 71 68 69.
209 J Kennedy 73 65 71, D Shacklady 70 69 70.
210 I Woosnam (Wal) 71 70 69, U Karatas (Tur) 68 70 72.
211 D J Russell 70 68 73.
212 P Way 68 71 73.
214 D Lang 67 70 77, S Bay (Tur) 71 68 75, P Allan 71 69 74, P Scott 71 72 71, M Westerberg (Swe) 70 69 75, P Carman 69 70 75, P Harrison 75 69 70.
215 S Brown (Ger) 70 71 74, R Muscroft (Ger) 73 69 73.
216 S Bottomley 72 68 76, A McNabola (Tur 70 74 72.
219 N Briggs 72 72 75.
228 D Kearney (Ire) 78 79 71.
229 M Jones (Cyprus) 80 72 77.
230 S Richardson 80 76 74, R Furby, 75 81 74
237J Dent (Tur) 79 76 82.
244 A Salmanli (Tur) 85 75 84,