ROBINSON WINS BUILDBASE OPEN

Eagle at 15 helps fend off Colegate’s challenge

James Robinson won his second HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour title after carding a final-round 71 (-1) to finish 12 under par in the Buildbase Open at Frilford Heath Golf Club.

The 25 year old won as an amateur at Slaley Hall in 2010 but this time is able to take home the £10,000 winner’s prize along with a brand new Motocaddy trolley and a Shotsaver range finder.

Robinson (Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club) had broken the course record with a nine-under 63 in his opening round, carded a 70 for the second and then fended off the challenge of Jack Colegate with a 71 for his final round.

Colegate (Deangate Ridge Golf Club) finished just one shot behind on 11 under par having also carded a final-round 71, and James Watts took third on -10 with rounds of 67, 70, 69.

Robinson and Colegate had exchanged the lead several times in the afternoon, but an birdie at 14 and an eagle three on the 15th saw Robinson move two clear for the first time in the final round.

Both players then parred 16 and 17, giving Robinson a two-stroke lead on the par-four last. He took three shots to reach the green while Colegate took just two, but Robinson two-putted for bogey while his challenger made par, handing the Lancashire man the Buildbase Open title.

“It is my first win as a pro but I won as an amateur on the EuroPro in 2010,” said Robinson. “It feels amazing to win it as a pro and take the £10,000 home and add that on to the Order of Merit, which is what we all play for at the end of the day.

“It is a big confidence boost. I felt a little bit of pressure because I knew I could shoot nine under but I stayed patient, stuck to my routine and played solid golf. The key was at 14 and 15 where I made birdie and then chipped in for an eagle.

“It helps for the Order of Merit and of course the top five is where I have always wanted to be, so hopefully I can push on and get on to the Challenge Tour but I will have to keep playing well because the standard is so good on the EuroPro.”

The final round was filmed for a two-hour highlights programme to be aired on Sky Sports HD on Tuesday, July 1 with repeats the following day. The HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour heads to Scotland next, for the Motocaddy Masters at The Carrick on Loch Lomond (July 9-11) and then to Royal Burgess in Edinburgh for The Simpson and Marwick Championship (July 16-18).

ROBINSON HOLDS ONE SHOT ADVANTAGE IN BUILDBASE OPEN

Southport and Ainsdale golfer follows course-record 63 with a 70 to lead by one James Robinson will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Buildbase Open after following his course-record 63 with a two-under-par 70 in the second round of the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro event at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Abingdon.

Jack Colegate (Deangate Ridge Golf Club) shot a second-round 66 (-6) to move to within one of the leader, and Marcus Armitage (Howley Hall Golf Club) is nine under after carding a 67 for his second 18.
Four golfers are tied fourth on seven under, including Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle Golf Club), who signed for the day’s best round, an eight-under 64.

Robinson won on the EuroPro at Slaley Hall in 2010, but as an amateur was unable to take home any money. The Southport and Ainsdale man had been in great form on Wednesday, shooting a bogey-free 18 to card the best score the Blue Course had seen in professional competition. 

However, he began the second round with a bogey at the first. He steadied with pars on two and three and returned to nine under for the tournament with a birdie at four. Par breakers at 13 and 15 took him two below the card and he saw the remainder of the back nine out to sign for 70.

“I played pretty well in the opening round,” said Robinson of his course-record 63 (-9). “I hit it great off the tee to get in good position on the fairways and was able to knock it close on the greens, which was really required because it was firm and bouncy. I hit my irons well and putted well, didn’t really miss much. It was a solid round.

“There was a bit of pressure on my second round because everybody had said what a good round Wednesday’s was but I stuck to my game plan and hit it well again.

“Unfortunately when I won on the EuroPro a few years ago I couldn’t get the money but it was a good experience to know I was good enough to compete and win at this level. It will be nice to win and be able to keep the £10,000 this time!

“I will be looking for more of the same in the final round. The weather won’t be too nice tomorrow so I will need to stick to what I am doing, don’t let anything interfere and take it one shot at a time.

“How much impact the weather has will depend on how it softens the course but we won’t know until we are here in the morning and can see what the weather is like. Whatever it is I will stick to my game plan and see what happens after those last 18 holes.”

The Buildbase Open carries a £40,000 prize fund with the winner receiving £10,000, which is crucial money to add to the Order of Merit from which the top five at the end of the season are rewarded with Challenge Tour categories for 2015.

The 54-hole strokeplay sees 168 of Europe’s best young golfers competing. A cut to the leading 50 players and ties has now been made, with all golfers whose 36-hole score is one under par or better proceeding to play Friday’s final round, which will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to be broadcast on Sky Sports on July 8 and spectator entry is free throughout the week.

RECORD BREAKER ROBINSON TWO CLEAR IN BUILDBASE OPEN

Kellett and Lidyard share second after Southport man cards nine-under 63

James Robinson carded a course record nine-under-par 63 in the opening round of the Buildbase Open to take a two-stroke lead in the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire.

Ross Kellett and Charlie Lidyard share second on seven under, while Peter Tarver-Jones, Mark Laskey and James Watts are tied for fourth on five under, four behind the leader.

Robinson began his round on the tenth tee and made five birdies on his first seven holes while also carding below par on the third, fifth, eighth and ninth holes to finish an unblemished opening round nine under, a professional record on Frilford Heath’s Blue Course.

Scotland’s Kellett (Kingsfield Golf Centre) had an eagle at the eighth to help him on his way to a seven-under 65, which saw six birdies and a bogey. Lidyard carded eight birdies and a bogey on the 16^th, having started at ten, was the only mark on his card.

Last year’s Buildbase Open winner Harry Bateman (Royal Wellington Golf Club) is seven back on two under. The New Zealander carded six birdies on his opening round but also made two bogeys and a double bogey on the par-three fifth.

The Buildbase Open carries a £40,000 prize fund with the winner receiving £10,000, which is crucial money to add to the Order of Merit from which the top five at the end of the season are rewarded with Challenge Tour categories for 2015.

The 54-hole strokeplay sees 168 of Europe’s best young golfers competing, with a cut to the top 50 players and ties to be made after the second round on Thursday (June 26).


The final round will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to be broadcast on Sky Sports on July 8 and spectator entry is free throughout the week. Live scoring and tee times can be found at www.europrotour.com.

FSC Invitational, The Astbury - Sky Sports HD Timings.

Just a quick note to let you know the FSC Invitational from The Astbury will be going to air on Sky Sports HD at the following times.

10:00 Wednesday 25^th June Sky Sports 4 HD (404)

13:00 Wednesday 25^th June Sky Sports 4 HD (404)

16:00 Wednesday 25^th June Sky Sports 4 HD (404)

JOY TAKES TWO SHOT LEAD INTO FINAL ROUND AT CUMBERWELL PARK

McCarthy and Armitage close but Dorset man leads the way on -11

Luke Joy will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the HotelPlanner.com Championship after carding a second-round 68 to move from eight under to 11 under and extend his 18-hole lead to two strokes by the end of Thursday’s play at Cumberwell Park in Wiltshire.

Nick McCarthy and Marcus Armitage share second on nine under, while seven golfers are tied fourth on eight under. Among those three behind the leader is Dave Thomas, who shot the day’s best round – an eight-under-par 63 on the par-71 Red and Yellow Course.

Joy (Broadstone Golf Club) began the day one ahead of the field after opening with a 63 on Wednesday. His second round began on the tenth tee and he got off to a promising start with birdies at 11 and 12. He broke par again at the first to sign for an unblemished second-round 68.

“I played very solidly again today,” he said. “It wasn’t the fireworks with the putter I had in the first round but overall I was happy with the day’s work. The weather was very pleasant again and the course is in great shape.

“I am looking forward to the challenge ahead of me tomorrow. I will go out to have fun, see how low I can post and then see if it is enough to win.”

McCarthy (Moortown Golf Club) was four behind Joy at the start of the day but a second-round 66 saw him move to within two of the leader. Armitage (Howley Hall Golf Club) was a winner on the Tour at Concra Wood last year and shot a six-under 65 to join McCarthy in second ahead of the final round.

Eight http://www.shotsaverdirect.com/golfers will begin Friday’s conclusive 18 just three off the lead and having seen course-record rounds of eight under carded twice this week will know a low score for victory is possible.

A further nine players are just four behind Joy and will also take realistic hopes of finishing top of the pack into Friday’s. The winner will take home £10,000 from the £40,000 prize fund.

Some of Europe’s best young golfers are in action in the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event, and the final round will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to be aired on Sky Sports on July 1.

A cut to the leading 50 players and ties has now been made, with the 67 players whose 36-hole scores are two under par or better proceeding to play the final round on Friday. Spectator entry is free and live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com

JOY LEADS AFTER 63 AT CUMBERWELL PARK

Dorset golfer one ahead on eight under after low-scoring first round in Wiltshire

Luke Joy carded an opening-round 63 to lead the HotelPlanner.com Championship at Cumberwell Park by one stroke on eight under par.

The Dorset golfer led a field which scored well on the first day of the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event on the par-71 Red and Yellow course. Spaniard Sebastian Garcia Grout is one behind the leader and five golfers share third on six under, just two off the top.

Joy was five under after his first nine holes and made it seven when he eagled 11. A bogey at 13 set him back a shot but 26-year-old moved to the top of the leaderboard with birdies at 16 and 17.

“I played really solidly today,” said Joy. “I got the pace of the greens down nicely and apart from a one-off shot which saw me make bogey on a par three I had it under control throughout.

“I have had a solid season and everything is coming together. I feel that I am knocking on the door and hopefully I can barge on through if I keep this week going the way it is.

“I think if you play well you will score well this week. The one thing to watch out for is it is playing short, so you don’t have to hit as much off the tee. It is a little bit risk-reward because of that; you could hit driver and go for a chip on and that offers some birdie opportunities.”

The HotelPlanner.com Championship carries a £40,000 prize fund with the winner receiving £10,000, which is crucial money to add to the Order of Merit from which the top five at the end of the season are rewarded with Challenge Tour categories for 2015.

The 54-hole strokeplay event sees 156 of Europe’s best young golfers competing, with a cut to the top 50 players and ties to be made after Thursday’s second round.

Friday’s final round will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to be broadcast on Sky Sports on July 1. Spectator entry is free throughout the week and live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com.

PORTEOUS SEALS FIRST PRO WIN AT FSC INVITATIONAL

Amateur Champion wins EuroPro play-off at The Astbury

Amateur Champion Garrick Porteous claimed his first professional win as he took the FSC Invitational title after a play-off in the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event at The Astbury in Shropshire.

The 24-year-old carded a final-round 66 (-4) to finish ten under, tied with South African Darryn Lloyd (68, 68, 64) and Yorkshireman James Maw (65, 66, 69) on the par-70 course.

The play-off took place on The Astbury’s spectacular par-three 18th and on the first play both Maw (Rockliffe Hall) and Porteous (ISM) made par, but Lloyd (Toft Hotel) found a greenside bunker and made bogey.  On the second play Maw too found the sand but played out to within feet of the pin. However, Porteous was well-placed on the green and putted in one for birdie and the victory.

“It is great to get the first pro win in,” said Porteous, who wins £10,000 a brand new Motocaddy and a Shotsaver range finder. “I got off to a slow start as a pro, missing a few cuts, but coming here and winning feels great and builds up the confidence.

“It is always nice to win and I am happy. I will see what happens for the rest of the season, I think I might get some European Tour invites and also play a few more EuroPro events.

“I didn’t have too long to wait before the play off was good, and both times it was just a nine iron from the tee and I was able to hole the putt in the second play-off hole.”

Five golfers finished tied for fourth on nine under, just one behind the trio who contended the play-off.

The final round was filmed for a two-hour highlights programme to be aired on Sky Sports HD on Tuesday, June 24 with repeats the following day. The HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour continues next week with the HotelPlanner.com Championship at Cumberwell Park in Bradford-on-Avon.

Players Put Their Trust in a Titleist Golf Ball

It is really an advertising video lets face it but it does build the anticipation nicely for Sunday - Fathers Day!

"The field is set and the players are ready for the challenge ahead of them at Pinehurst No. 2. And once again, the majority of players in the field will put their trust in a Titleist golf ball - The #1 ball played at the U.S. Open for 66 years... and still counting."