NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPRO TOUR
By NICK TEALE
Paul Maddy won the Veka and Network Veka UK Open 2012 at De Vere Wychwood Park, despite making four bogeys on his final round.

A course-record 62 in the second round had put Maddy (Gog Magog) two shots clear going into the last day of the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event and he looked certain of victory after opening with birdies at one and two.

However, bogeys at six, 13, 14 and 16 saw him fall to nine under par, and as Maddy teed off on the 17th Scott Fallen birdied the 18th to complete a final round 70 and move to eight under.

However, Maddy managed a birdie two at the 17th to give himself a two-shot cushion as he began the final hole, which he parred to claim the £10,000 winner’s cheque.

Fallon (Lightning Packaging Supplies Ltd) finished tied second after a final round which included three birdies and a single bogey. Charlie Cossins (Bath Golf Club) signed for a one-over-par 73 at the end of the final day and finished alongside Fallon.

James Watts (The Sports Academy) shot a final-round 70 and finished tied for third with Charlie Cossins (Bath Golf Club) and Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes), who eagled the last to earn his place in the top-five.

The victory moves Maddy up to third on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit but bogeys at 13 and 14 piled on the pressure as he approached the clubhouse.

“I birdied the first and second and had chances on three, four and five,” he explained. “I didn’t take those chances but I was in a good position going into the back nine. I hit a few loose ones and the last few holes were always going to be tricky with the pressure on.

“I had problems on 13 and 14 and at 15 I went over the fairway and into the trees but then holed a 20-foot putt for par and that was a great momentum boost, though I did then make a silly bogey at 16 as well.

“I was relieved with a birdie two at the 17th but it was a little dicey as to whether the tee shot would clear the water or not!”

His 10-under-par 62 in the second round on Thursday proved the crucial factor in Maddy’s win but the Englishman says he didn’t realise he was in the middle of an attention-grabbing round until he came off the 15th.

“On Thursday morning I walked onto the course with no expectations,” he explained. “But I got some momentum with a birdie at the first and then it was a case of taking the opportunities when they came. It was obviously my day.

“For most of the round I wasn’t thinking that something special was on, but then I managed to birdie the hardest three holes on the course, 13, 14 and 15, and I capped it off with an eagle on the last.”

The next 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour event is the Sweetspot Classic, which commences at Longhirst Hall Golf Club next Thursday, August 30.

 LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
206 Paul Maddy (Gog Magor) 71 62 73
208 Scott Fallon (England) 68 70 70, Charlie Cossins (Bath) 68 67 73
209 James Watts (East Herts) 70 68 70, Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes) 73 66 70

SCOTS SCORES

210 Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 77  66 67 (T6)
215 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 73 72 70 (T22)
216 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 70 69 77 (T26)
218 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 74 71 73 (T36)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE http://europro.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/europro12/event/europro1211/contest/1/leaderboard.htm