PGA Professional Championship

Late bogeys cost Paul Wardell the lead

Bogeys at the 14th and 17th knocked North Berwick's Paul Wardell out of the lead he held with five holes to play late on the first day of the PGA professionals championship at gale-swept Burnham and Berrow Golf Club, Somerset, writes Colin Farquharson

Wardell, battled with and against a gale-force wind that reached 50mph strength at times to finish with an excellent-par-matching round of 72, one behind long-time clubhouse leader Akexander Wrigley (Hartlepool).

Other Tartan Tour campaigners in the mix are Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) and Welshman Gareth Wright (West Linton). They are among 10 players sharing third place on 73. 

Scroll down to reach the PGA summary of the day's play

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 72

71 A Wrigley (Hartlepool)

72 P Wardell (North Berwick)

SELECTED SCORES

73 G Fox (Clydeway Golf), G Wright (West Linton) (T3)

75 J Savage (Dalmuir), P Walker (Ballumbie Castle), C Everett (Caldwell) (T21)

76 C Ronald (Carluke) (T30)

79 I Taylor (Drumpellier), G Brown (Montrose Links), F Mann (Carnoustie GC) (T72)

80 B Collier (Netherlands) (T89

84 M Huish (North Berwick) (T128)

87 A Stuart (Paul Lawrie GC) (T138).

PGA NEWS RELEASE
Hard work in the gym over winter paid off for North-east of England  golfer Alex Wrigley as he defied gusting winds of up to 40mph to seize the lead in the Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship at Burnham and Berrow.
The famed Somerset links, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, bared its teeth on the opening day of the £78,000 tournament as the 144 strong field was battered from start to finish with no player managing to break par.
But Hartlepool Golf Club attached pro Wrigley withstood everything the links could throw at him to sign for a level par 71 with two birdies on the fourth and 15th cancelling out just two dropped shots.
Wrigley leads by one stroke from North Berwick’s Paul Wardell with a clutch of players including 2012 champion Gareth Wright (West Linton) and 2013 winner Dan Greenwood (Forest Pines) gathered at his heels two shots back while the 2009 victor James Lee (Caerphilly Golf Club) enjoyed a special moment with a hole-in-one on the par 3 fifth hole.
Wrigley though took the plaudits on a day of difficult scoring which Morlais Castle’s Sion Bebb, another past champion, described as ‘brutal’.
“I’ve been brought up on links courses, it doesn’t make it any easier but you know what to do when the winds blowing, today was all about keeping it in play and keeping it level par,” said Wrigley.
“You’ve got to stay patient. On one of the bogeys I took an unplayable lie in the rough, and through keeping my patience and not losing my cool, I was able to hole a 10 footer for bogey which proved to be a really good bogey in the end because I went on to get a good birdie on 15th – which was probably a key shot to get me back to level par with three holes to play.
“It’s great to be leading but there are still three rounds to go. If I can produce the golf that I produced today then hopefully I should be there or thereabouts on Friday.
“I’ve played in this once before – it’s definitely the best event that The PGA run all year.”
Wrigley juggles coaching and shop work while competing on the Europro Tour but his long term target is to reach the top table of European golf while a good finish this week will earn him a place in the Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team to face the United States in California in September.
“I’m very passionate about playing. My life revolves around golf, when I’m at home and not at tournaments I’m working hard in the gym, practising hard and trying to fit lessons and shop hours in as well.
“It’s long hours, and through the winter, but it’s paying off.”
The 72-hole tournament concludes on Friday with the winner also gaining the keys to a Peugeot 308GT for 12 months.