CRAIG'S A JOLLY GOODFELLOW AT GLENMUIR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
By LEE McLAUGHLIN
The iconic Belfry witnessed more golfing history as former PGA Assistants’ winner Craig Goodfellow completed a unique double by securing the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship in association with Peugeot.
The 35-year-old Carlisle Driving Range PGA professional is the first player to have won both titles, having lifted the assistants’ crown a decade ago.
Goodfellow added the PGA’s flagship title to his trophy cabinet in some style over the PGA National course with his fourth successive round under par in the £78,000 flagship event.
A steady one-under 71 took him to seven-under-par for the tournament, securing him a bounty of riches including a winner’s cheque for £10,000, his place on the 2011 GB and Ireland PGA Cup team, and a place in the end-of-year PGA Play-Offs in Turkey.
“It feels awesome to have won,” he said.
“It’s a strange day as it didn’t feel like a final round as I was totally relaxed, which is different to how it has been in the past.
“I felt incredibly calm and why I probably managed to get over the line. I was dead solid, didn’t miss many greens and didn’t put myself under pressure apart from a couple of shots.
“On the whole I was just steady, which has been the key to the week really. At 17 I hit it into the fairway trap and I didn’t make par there but I did at the last.
“It’s amazing to be the first player to win this and the Assistants’ championship. This tournament has been my goal all year. It was going to be the only tournament I was going to play in. I don’t know what winning gets me but a nice cheque and into the PGA Cup.
“That was the biggest motivation, getting into the PGA Cup team as missing out on that would have been the worst thing.”
Second place was taken by Greenore’s Rob Giles, who carded a third successive level par 72 for a four-under-par total.
Giles, who ensured he will be making his PGA Cup debut, revealed how his return to form this week has rejuvenated him having withdrawn from all his tournaments last year due to a complete loss of form.
“My game had been pretty poor and I was at stagee where I withdrew from all my events,” said the 40-year-old
“I had some Challenge Tour events via my ranking and I pulled out of them last year as I was so despondent with my game but now it’s a question of looking at my schedule again after making the PGA Cup team.
“I would have liked to have won the championship but outside of that getting on the PGA Cup team was my next priority – and I’ve done that.
“I had chances to challenge. I had a chance on the 10th with a four foot putt for eagle to get to eight-under but I missed it. After that it was a case of getting home. I made a couple of bogeys on easy putts and I was a little bit nervous over the last few holes but I parred the last two to get home safely, so in the end I’m more than happy.
“Making the PGA Cup means everything. I’ve played majors, European Tour events, I’ve played seven times for Ireland in the International Team Championships, winning it twice, and if anything the PGA Cup is the only thing I haven’t played in.”
Also making his debut at the age of 47 will be Ganton’s Gary Brown. He shot a one-over-par 73 to claim third spot at three-under-par.
It was a remarkable week for Brown, who spent one night in a 24-hour supermarket dosed up with painkillers after being unable to sleep due to severe toothache.
But he overcame that, and a dose of nerves, to achieve the unthinkable.
“This means everything,” he said. “I’ve played in the Open before but to make the PGA Cup team is the by far the best.
“I played at Royal Porthcawl four years ago, when the PGA Cup was going to be in America. I was in a similar position then on the back nine and I needed a decent back nine to get in and I ended up missing out on the team by two shots.
“I was devastated for a few months afterwards. I thought I’d blown it because I was 43, so to make it now at 47 is absolutely fantastic.”
Par 288 (4x72)
281 Craig Goodfellow Carlisle DR 70 71 69 71
284 Robert Giles Greenore 68 72 72 723
285 Gary Brown Ganton 72 70 70 73
286 Simon Edwards Windermere 72 68 73 73, Christopher Gill Exeter 69 73 69 75
287 John Kennedy Wexham Park 72 71 71 73m Matt Morris Walmley 74 70 70 73, Michael Watson Wessex 73 66 74 74, Steve Carter South Staffs 72 71 69 75.
288 Paul Wesselingh Kedleston Park 72 71 73 72
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By LEE McLAUGHLIN
The iconic Belfry witnessed more golfing history as former PGA Assistants’ winner Craig Goodfellow completed a unique double by securing the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship in association with Peugeot.Goodfellow added the PGA’s flagship title to his trophy cabinet in some style over the PGA National course with his fourth successive round under par in the £78,000 flagship event.
A steady one-under 71 took him to seven-under-par for the tournament, securing him a bounty of riches including a winner’s cheque for £10,000, his place on the 2011 GB and Ireland PGA Cup team, and a place in the end-of-year PGA Play-Offs in Turkey.
“It feels awesome to have won,” he said.
“It’s a strange day as it didn’t feel like a final round as I was totally relaxed, which is different to how it has been in the past.
“I felt incredibly calm and why I probably managed to get over the line. I was dead solid, didn’t miss many greens and didn’t put myself under pressure apart from a couple of shots.
“On the whole I was just steady, which has been the key to the week really. At 17 I hit it into the fairway trap and I didn’t make par there but I did at the last.
“It’s amazing to be the first player to win this and the Assistants’ championship. This tournament has been my goal all year. It was going to be the only tournament I was going to play in. I don’t know what winning gets me but a nice cheque and into the PGA Cup.
“That was the biggest motivation, getting into the PGA Cup team as missing out on that would have been the worst thing.”
Second place was taken by Greenore’s Rob Giles, who carded a third successive level par 72 for a four-under-par total.
Giles, who ensured he will be making his PGA Cup debut, revealed how his return to form this week has rejuvenated him having withdrawn from all his tournaments last year due to a complete loss of form.
“My game had been pretty poor and I was at stagee where I withdrew from all my events,” said the 40-year-old
“I had some Challenge Tour events via my ranking and I pulled out of them last year as I was so despondent with my game but now it’s a question of looking at my schedule again after making the PGA Cup team.
“I would have liked to have won the championship but outside of that getting on the PGA Cup team was my next priority – and I’ve done that.
“I had chances to challenge. I had a chance on the 10th with a four foot putt for eagle to get to eight-under but I missed it. After that it was a case of getting home. I made a couple of bogeys on easy putts and I was a little bit nervous over the last few holes but I parred the last two to get home safely, so in the end I’m more than happy.
“Making the PGA Cup means everything. I’ve played majors, European Tour events, I’ve played seven times for Ireland in the International Team Championships, winning it twice, and if anything the PGA Cup is the only thing I haven’t played in.”
Also making his debut at the age of 47 will be Ganton’s Gary Brown. He shot a one-over-par 73 to claim third spot at three-under-par.
It was a remarkable week for Brown, who spent one night in a 24-hour supermarket dosed up with painkillers after being unable to sleep due to severe toothache.
But he overcame that, and a dose of nerves, to achieve the unthinkable.
“This means everything,” he said. “I’ve played in the Open before but to make the PGA Cup team is the by far the best.
“I played at Royal Porthcawl four years ago, when the PGA Cup was going to be in America. I was in a similar position then on the back nine and I needed a decent back nine to get in and I ended up missing out on the team by two shots.
“I was devastated for a few months afterwards. I thought I’d blown it because I was 43, so to make it now at 47 is absolutely fantastic.”
Former Glenmuir PGA Professional champion Simon Edwards (Windermere) and Exeter’s Chris Gill completed the top five finishing at two-under-par. They also made the GB & I PGA Cup team.
Completing the 10-man side, which is captained by Russell Weir, are the top three from 2010 – David Mortimer (Galway), David Shacklady (Mossock Hall) and Stuart Little (Minchinhampton). The final two places went to Matt Morris (Walmley) and John Wells (Cherry Burton) following a five-man play-off.
The PGA Cup is a biennial Ryder Cup-style between PGA professionals from Great Britain and Ireland and the United States. It was first competed for in 1973.
LEADING FINAL TOTALSPar 288 (4x72)
281 Craig Goodfellow Carlisle DR 70 71 69 71
284 Robert Giles Greenore 68 72 72 723
285 Gary Brown Ganton 72 70 70 73
286 Simon Edwards Windermere 72 68 73 73, Christopher Gill Exeter 69 73 69 75
287 John Kennedy Wexham Park 72 71 71 73m Matt Morris Walmley 74 70 70 73, Michael Watson Wessex 73 66 74 74, Steve Carter South Staffs 72 71 69 75.
288 Paul Wesselingh Kedleston Park 72 71 73 72
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND PRIZEMONEY
CLICK HERE
Labels: PRO GOLF
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, June 17, 2011
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