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