Ryan Campbell top Scot in PGA EuroPro Tour finale

Tarver-Jones wins Spanish play-off to earn 

promotion to Challenge Tour

NEWS RELEASE FROM NICK TEALE

Peter Tarver-Jones won the Matchroom Sport EuroPro Tour Championship after a sudden-death play-off to seal an immediate return to the Challenge Tour.

The Worthing Golf Club pro shot a course-record equalling 63, nine under par, to join Richard James (Aberdovey Golf Club) 68, 70, 65) on 13 under par at the end of the final tournament of the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour season at Desert Springs Resort in Spain. 

Despite a difficult lie, Tarver-Jones (70, 70, 63) nailed his approach on the first additional hole to within four feet and held his nerve to take the title, and a £20,000 winner's cheque which propelled him to second on the Race To Desert Springs Order of Merit.

With the season now complete, the top five on the tour standings earn a category on next year’s Challenge Tour. Matthew Cort (Beedles Lake Golf Club; 70, 66, 69) was among four players tied third on -11 and consolidated his long-standing place at the top of the money list.

Curtis Griffiths (Wentworth) takes third on the rankings with James fourth and Mark Laskey (Brocket Hall/Team Honma) completing the top five, while James also won the Rookie of the Year trophy after collecting a runners-up cheque for £10,000. 

However, there was agony for Billy Hemstock (Teignmough Golf Club). Having twice previously finished seventh on the Order of Merit, this year he missed out on the top five by a shade over £600.

For Tarver-Jones though, there was only delight. Two years ago he sealed promotion to the Challenge Tour via the EuroPro Tour Order of Merit but returned this summer after a disappointing 2015. But he was able to win when it mattered and closed out the season by earning an immediate return to Europe’s second tier. 

“My heart is pounding,” he said shortly after making the winning putt which also earned him a brand new Motocaddy S1 Lithium trolley, Bushnell Tour X Range Finder and Bolle Sunglasses.

“I feel good, it was great fun today and in the play-off I just tried to have some fun. I hit a great second shot and had a good putt.

“I was aggressive today, I had no option but to be. I had played really well in the second round but didn’t hole anything whereas today I holed a few putts. I was quite a way ahead of the leaders so they had quite a few holes but at 15 I saw the leaderboard and knew I was tied with Joe for the lead. 

“I was disappointed with last year on the Challenge Tour but I learnt so much, so to get the opportunity to do it again, I am really excited for it. Qualifying School is coming up as well so, who knows, if I can ride the momentum I may be able to get on the European Tour.”

Joe Dean (Hillsborough Golf Club) had started the final round with a three-shot lead and remained at the top of the leaderboard for much of the day.

 However, despite making the turn at -13, a mixed back nine of three birdies, three bogeys and a double after going out of bounds on the 15^th, saw his lead evaporate, and with it his chances of promotion. He joined Cort, Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park) and Andrew Marshall (Bawburgh Golf Club) in the four-way tie for third. 
The leading Scot was Falkirk Golf Club's Ryan Campbell with scores of 69, 70 and 70 for seven-under 209 and a share of 11th place. He won £1,368.
Campbell had five birdies before he bogeyed the 15th and 18th in the final round. Had he parred these two holes he would have double his prizemoney.
Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) made the top 20 and earned a £914 cheque for a T19 finish on 211 (70-71-70). He had a double bogey at the 11th in his final round.
Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), after opening rounds of 70 and 69, had looked favourite to emerge as the highest-placed Scot but he had a nightmare third-round 81 (39-42) which included two double bogey 6s and a triple bogey 7 at the 18th.
Fenwick earned £558 for a T47 finish.
Conor O'Neil (Mearns Castle) and John Henry (Clydebank and District) tied for 49th place on 221 and earned £540 apiece.
O'Neil had scores of 78, 70 and 73; Henry 73, 75 and 73. 

Highlights of the Matchroom Sport Tour Championship will air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, November 1 and a season review will be broadcast over the Christmas period. Highlights of all HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour events are also available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/PGAEuroProTour.

  
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
203 Peter Tarver-Jones (Worthing) 70 70 63 (£20,000) bt Richard James (Aberdovey) 68 70 65 (£10,000) in a sudden-death play-off.
205 Andrew Marshall (Bawburgh) 73 65 67, Matthew Cort (Beedles Lane) 70 66 69, Ashley Chesters (Hawkstone Park) 69 66 70 (£3,638 each).

SCOTS' TOTALS
209 Ryan Campbell (Falkirk) 6970 70 (T11) (£1,368)
211 Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) 70 71 70 (T19) (£914)
220 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 70 69 81 (T47) (£558)
221 Conor O'Neil (Mearns Castle) 78 70 73, John Henry (Clydebank and Dist) 73 75 73 (T49) (£540 each).