Mark Hooper made a significant breakthrough in his career with his first PGA East Region Order of Merit victory in the Oakroom Charity Classic at Stock Brook Golf and Country Club.
The 24-year-old from Rayleigh Golf Range produced a splendid five under par tournament performance in difficult conditions.
Hooper shared the lead with Darren Charlton of Dunstable Downs and Jason Levermore of Clacton after a first round played against the backdrop of wind and squally showers.
It was dry, but still windy, for the second round when Hooper found 17 greens in regulation.
Despite three putting the 17th to go back to five under par for the tournament, it seemed that he was virtually home and dry on the 18th tee.
Andrew Pestell of Chelmsford was in the clubhouse at three under par and Charlton was two under with the final par five to play.
But strange things can happen in golf. Hooper, having found a fairway bunker, was safely at the back of the green in regulation three.
There seemed no great pressure. A bogey would suffice, so he was thinking. Then Charlton holed an amazing 50 foot putt for an eagle. Hooper was left with a slippery downhill putt from 15 feet and needed to get down in two to avoid a play-off.
"It was the only time in the match that I was nervous," admitted Hooper who calmly rolled the ball to within six inches of the hole. Hooper won £1575 and Charlton took home £1115.
The win lifted Hooper to third in the East Region Order of Merit behind Charlton and Brett Taylor of Chelmsford. His targets now are to maintain the pressure in the final OOM event the Cambridge Meridian Classic on September 17 and 18. After that he will take his chance on the PGA European Tour School at Chart Hills.
Levermore, who twice found watery ditches, slipped to fourth in the Order of Merit with Pestell fifth.
Hooper said: "I teach at the Rayleigh Golf Range and have a repair business which helps fund my tournament play which is my main goal at present.
"I feel confident that I can do well at Tour School and am hoping that this win might help open a few doors. I stayed positive and kept looking for birdies."
Hooper is keen to stay in the top three of the order of merit so that he can take his chance in the Srixon PGA Play-Offs at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on October 21st and 22nd.
Pestell's four under par 68 was the best round of the second day. He dropped only one shot and had five birdies. Hooper had 69 together with Daniel Field (East Herts), Daniel Poulter (Bedford), Kieran Canham (Bury St Edmunds) and Kevin Clark (Three Rivers) all of whom were too far behind on the first day to put in a realistic challenge.
15 August, 2008