WEBB IN WONDERLAND AFTER PGA VICTORY

 PGA NEWS RELEASE

Mathew Webb withstood a few last round jitters to land the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship at Little Aston for the biggest win of his career.

The Bedlingtonshire assistant carded a 69 for a 12 under par total which was enough to beat Rushcliffe Golf Club’s Ben Hall by two strokes.

In an enthralling final round, Webb’s three shot lead at the start of play had evaporated at one stage with Hall getting to 11 under to pile on the pressure.

Hall’s 66 was the low round of the day – his sparkling display only blotted by a bogey on the last hole which gave Webb a cushion playing up the last.

Retford’s James Freeman was also in contention at various points, buoyed by a spectacular start which saw him reel off four straight birdies from the first.

The former England amateur eventually signed for a 67 as did St Mellons’ Toby Hunt with the pair sharing third at eight under for the £32,000 tournament.

Webb admitted to a few nerves but was delighted to get over the line and also seize the playing opportunities that the victory affords him.

As well as pocketing the £5,000 first prize and a clothing deal with sponsors Galvin Green, Webb earns entry to the end of season PGA Play-Offs and with it a chance to win a place in next year’s BMW PGA Championship.

He will also play in the Australian Futures in October when he takes on the leading assistants from Down Under.

“There are so many incentives so it’s a huge boost plus you get the confidence from playing in this event itself and actually winning which is massive,” said Webb.

“It’s amazing to win because this was one of my targets for the year along with Tour School.”

Webb’s round began with a wayward drive that cost him a bogey but three birdies soothed the nerves until two more shots went at six and seven.

“I hit a rubbish shot off the first so I think I was a little nervous at the first but three birdies seemed to calm me down but then I had another wobbly stretch.

“I played okay but hit some bad ones which I got punished for. I putted defensively, I think if I’d had a foot more on my putts I’d be three or four shots better but I kind of knew I was in a good position so didn’t want to risk three putting.”

Nearest challenger Hall kickstarted his round after three putting the par 5 fourth.

“I hit it to 15 foot and three putted so I was pretty livid after that and hit it to six inches at the next and decided after that I was going to play well and went out in four under.

“I kept it going, made a good par save at 15 and it was just a shame at the last.”

Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship, August 3-5.

Leading final round scores

Pos         Score                     Name                                    Represents

1              69, 66, 69 (-12)   Mathew Webb, Bedlingtonshire

2              71, 69, 66 (-10)   Ben Hall  Rushcliffe

3=           71, 70 , 67 (-8)    James Freeman   Retford

                70, 71, 67           Toby Hunt   St Mellons

5              72, 66, 71 (-7)     Adam Keogh  Spalding

6              73, 68, 69 (-6)     Kieron Fowler    Lyme Regis

Full leaderboard https://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi16/event/pgagbi16660/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

 

 

 

Nathaniel Sylvester

Senior Media Executive