Please note that 2012's Pro-Am is on July 4th - entry forms available soon!
Glazerite Pro Am, Wellingborough Golf Club, Northamptonshire.
First place was shared at the Glazerite Pro Am between man of the moment Simon Lilly (Wellingborough Golf Club) and Mark Smith (Erewash Valley Golf Club) with a further tie for third place between Thomas Rastall (Sleaford Golf Club) and Neil Evans (Greetham Valley Golf Club).
With the leaders finding two different ways of posting 67, the action was always going to be exciting. During the early stages of proceedings it looked as though Lilly might once again run away with it. But after bagging six birdies in the first 12 holes, a bogey at 13 and no further birdies left the door open for anyone in the mood to take full advantage. Smith certainly did just that. After a tricky one over front nine, he fired 2 eagles and 2 birdies to complete the back nine in a sensational -6 to tie Lilly for a share the spoils.
With both players securing recent successes it was definitely a tournament for the formbook, with Lilly recording his second victory on the bounce and Smith making it two from the last three. Both players will be hoping that form again counts for something today in the Glazerite Trophy, once more hosted by Wellingborough Golf Club and the second Order of Merit event of the Midlands season.
Glazerite Trophy, Wellingborough Golf Club, Northamptonshire
In the second Order of Merit Tournament of the year it was 22-year-old John-Paul Banbury claiming the Glazerite Trophy from Paul Wesselingh (Kedleston Park Golf Club) and Playing partner for the day, Lee Clark (Beeston Fields Golf Club).
The first round at this stunning venue threw up few surprises, except the shock four over round posted by home professional, Simon Lilly. Lilly is in a rich vein of form that, in recent weeks has seen him qualify for the Open Championships and win back to back Pro Am’s. With a second round display much more in character, he put the morning to the back of his mind and fired a sparkling 65 that leapt him back up the field into a tie for 6th place.
However, it was Banbury’s day as he grabbed his opportunity with both hands, claiming the first Order of Merit title of his career in the process. A comfortable first round of 69 put Banbury tied for second, 1 shot adrift of Paul Wesselingh. Wesselingh would fire back to back 68’s to take the clubhouse lead at -8, before Banbury almost immediately returned his devastating 66 to record -9 for the tournament and snatch the title from Wesselingh’s grasp.
Playing with Lee Clarke, who would eventually finish third, Banbury had a good idea of what he needed to do saying "I was aware that the way we were playing we’d be near to top come the end. At one point Lee got ahead of me so I knew roughly what I needed and had to try and come back at him, thankfully I did”.
"I’ve been playing well lately but my putting has been letting me down a bit, in the second round it was beautiful though. I set the goal at the start of the year of winning a big one and I’ve done that now so I’m going to have to go away and try and set some new goals for the rest of the year and try to keep it going.”
Our own Ryan Evans was given a sponsors invite and kindly allowed to play as an amateur in the Trophy by the PGA. Ryan did himself and the Club proud by finishing in tied 6th position at -3.
Open qualifying Simon Lilly also finished at -3. Club professional David Clifford finished at tied 54th at +8 and assistant James Whittemore finished 73rd at +16.