Golf
Success for Broadhurst and Abbey members

By Liam Moakes Wednesday 19 September 2012 Updated: 20/09 12:55

Buy photos » The winning team - Matt Cort, John Longley, Graham Catt and David Steane with Paul Deakin from Carlsberg UK. (s)

THE FOUR-STAR Abbey Hotel, Golf & Spa in Redditch once again hosted a very successful Midland PGA Pro-AM, sponsored by Carlsberg UK.

The shotgun start format saw 18 teams of four consisting of three amateurs and one leading Midland professional compete for over £4,000 worth of amateur prizes and a £2,500 professional prize fund.

With the course playing its full length of 6,700 yards from the competition tees, the greens running fast and some strong winds, the challenge was set.

Paul Streeter, last year's Midland PGA Order of Merit winner, looked a good prospect having won 11 times this season on the Midlands circuit, with the highlight of his season being a top 20 finish in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

He earned £40,000 in this event alone and beat a host of world class players such as Lee Westwood along the way, but he could not quite take this form to The Abbey though and finished with a respectable level par 72 as he tied for fourth place.

Last year's winning professional Matt Cort, from Rothley Park, once again came into this event in form with seven victories under his belt already this season including The PGA National Assistants Championship at East Sussex National Golf Resort.

His steady golf and one under par 71 eventually earned him third place, just behind Ian Wally (Shirland GC) whose round of 70 consisted of five birdies and three bogeys.

Former Ryder Cup player and six-time European Tour winner Paul Broadhurst, playing in this event for the second year running, had a terrible start to his round (ninth tee) as he ran up a triple bogey seven after hitting his first drive out of bounds.

However, true class shone through in the end and he played the remaining 17 holes in an incredible seven under par for a winning professional score of 68 (four under par) to set a new course record.

In his winning speech the Warwickshire player thanked The Abbey for hosting the event and said: "This course gets better every time I play it.

"The new range opening soon also looks to be a great facility and I'll look forward to coming back next year."

The winning team with a score of -14 was Abbey club captain John Longley, club secretary David Steane and competition secretary Graham Catt with professional Cort.

All enjoyed the day immensely and will look forward to their two-night golf break at Kenwick Park as part of their prizes.

Co-ordinator of the event, The Abbey's head professional Rob Davies, was delighted with the day and said: "I've had so many positive comments from the professionals and amateurs about the course, dinner and prizes.

"I'm very proud we attracted such a strong field of Pros and this event has definitely now become a prominent fixture on the Midlands PGA circuit and next year we hope to attract even more team entries."