WONDERFUL WATTS LEADS WALK IN MY SHOES OPEN

Fantastic front nine gives Englishman two-shot lead

James Watts shot six birdies on his first eight holes to lead the Walk In My Shoes Open by two strokes on six under par in the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour at Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Country Club in Co. Carlow, Ireland.

The Englishman won his first event on Europe’s leading development tour at Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh two weeks ago and currently lies fifth on the Order of Merit. The top five at the end of the season earn a Challenge Tour card for 2015, and a strong finish in Ireland this week would strengthen Watts’ position.

His pars on one and six were the only two of the first eight holes he didn’t birdie, and his level-par back nine ensured he signed for a six-under-par 66 and take a two stroke lead into Thursday’s second round.

Sam Connor and Stuart Archibald share second on four under while Steve Uzzell, last week’s winner of the Kingspan Concra Wood Open, and David Booth, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, are tied fourth on three under par.

“I was six under through eight and had a good chance on 11,” said leader Watts. “I missed that chance but parred in and had a few more chances which didn’t drop.

“I got the putter going. I hit it the same all day but the ones on the front nine dropped and those on the back didn’t. There are lots of slopes on those greens, the course is good and if you can get the putter going you can do well.

“It is the same every week, you need to go out there and concentrate on what you are supposed to do and see what happens. I relaxed a bit more today than I did last week and it happened for me.”
The Walk In My Shoes Open continues on Thursday, July 31 and concludes on Friday, August 1. Spectator entry is free throughout the event and the final round will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, August 12.

Thanks to PGA for press release and image

The Simpson and Marwick Championship, Royal Burgess on SKY

Just a quick note to let you know the Simpson and Marwick Championship from Royal Burgess Golf Club will be going to air on Sky Sports HD at the following times.

19:00 Tuesday 29^th July Sky Sports 4 HD (404)

01:30 Wednesday 30^th July Sky Sports 4 HD (404)

10:00 Wednesday 30^th July Sky Sports 4 HD (404)

13:30 Wednesday 30^th July Sky Sports 4 HD (404)

19:00 Wednesday 30^th July Sky Sports 4 HD (404)

03:00 Thursday 31^st July Sky Sports 4 HD (404)

Please enjoy!

Thanks to PGA for times

UZZELL CLAIMS MAIDEN EUROPRO WIN IN KINGSPAN CONCRA WOOD OPEN

Englishman finishes one clear after title rival Thacker triples 17th

Steve Uzzell claimed his first HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour win when he captured the Kingspan Concra Wood Open title on Friday, winning by one shot on nine under.

The Yorkshireman began the round one behind George Thacker (Kedleston Park), who had carded a remarkable seven-under 65 for his second round, four better than the next best card that day.

The 26 year old was neck and neck with Uzzell for much of the final round, but a triple bogey on the 17^th saw him sign for a 75 on the par 72 course, finishing third on seven under.

Northern Ireland’s Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge Golf Club) was two under for his final round to claim second place on eight under, while Uzzell (Hornsea Golf Club) won with a level-par final round.

“It feels fantastic,” said Uzzell, who wins £10,000, a brand new Motocaddy S1 Pro and a Shotsaver range finder after his victory at Concra Wood Golf Club in Castleblayney, Ireland.

“It got pretty tight on the last nine holes as you would expect, and it is nice to come out on top for a change.

“I bogeyed the 12^th, which is playing something like 200 yards into the wind with water on the left and a really tough flag. I thought if I could make par there then I could make a couple of birdies on the last six, but it played tough today with some great flag positions on the course.

“George on the 17^th, it was the only bad swing of the day for him, and it cost him a god chance coming up the last.

“Everybody on the tour would say you have to use your morning round, and I got off to a really good start on Wednesday morning and played really nicely on Thursday afternoon in my second round.

“You never know what you are going to need in your final round but I have managed to win and that is great for me.

“The win puts me up there on the Order of Merit and that means one more could result can see you finish in the top five and move forward to the Challenge Tour.

“It was my birthday earlier in the week, and there might well be a double celebration!”

Highlights of the Kingspan Concra Wood Open air on Sky Sports 4 on Tuesday, August 5, with repeats the following day. The HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour remains in Ireland for the Walk In My Shoes Open at Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, July 30-August 1.

Thanks to PGA fro the press release and image

UZZELL’S SIX UNDER LEADS KINGSPAN CONCRA WOOD OPEN

Englishman one ahead after first round in Castleblayney, Ireland

Steve Uzzell leads by one stroke after the first round of the Kingspan Concra Wood Open after carding a six-under-par 66 in the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event in Castleblayney, Ireland.

The Hornsea Golf Club man is trailed by Liam Murray, with three players sharing third on four under with 36 holes to play in the event, which carries a £40,000 prize fund with £10,000 going to the winner.

Uzzell, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Tuesday, began on the tenth tee and was five under for his first nine, thanks in part to an eagle at the 15th. He made two bogeys on his back nine – at two and six, but birdies at one, four and eight helped him to an opening-round 66, six under par.

Murray (La Marquesa Golf) signed for a bogey-free 67, five under par, with his round including an eagle three on the first having started his round on the tenth.

Tied for third two behind the leader on four under are Englishmen Rory Walsh (Ashton-on-Mersey Golf Club), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge Golf Club) and Ryan Brown (Worksop Golf Club).

The leading Irishman is Colm Moriarty, who is based at Glasson Hotel and Golf Club in County Westmeath. He sits 11th on the leaderboard on two under par, four behind the leader.

The Kingspan Concra Wood Open is a 54 hole strokeplay event with a cut to the leading 50 players and ties after the second round. Spectator entry is free throughout the week and Friday’s final round will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, August 5. Live scoring can be found at www.europrotour.com.

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Thanks to PGA for Press Release and images