Dublin-based PGA assistants Stuart Taylor and Pat Devine performed like seasoned professionals to claim the biggest win of their short careers - the SkyCaddie PGA Fourball Championship supported by Sunderland - at Forest Pines.
Taylor (The Island, Dublin) and Devine (Royal Dublin), who boast three years service as assistant pros between them, began the final round level on 22-under-par with experienced Yorkshire duo Adrian Ambler and Aran Wainwright.
And there was no hint of any stage fright as they followed up their blistering 14-under-par second round of 59 with birdies at the first six holes of the Lincolnshire course.
Neither were they fazed when Ambler (Walton Golf Centre) and Wainwright (Mid Yorkshire Golf Club) restored parity by the 15th hole.
Instead, the Liverpool-born Taylor responded with birdies at the 16th and 17th before his Irish partner parred the final hole to secure victory by three strokes.
In addition to earning the pair the first prize of £5,000, their 31-under-par bogey-free total of 188 was a record for the £30,000 tournament.
All of which justified Taylor's decision to cut short a holiday in Spain to play in the final which is being sponsored for the second successive year by SkyCaddie, the official rangefinder of the PGA.
"I was meant to be there for a fortnight but left after a week to play here," said the 24-year-old. "I need another holiday now because they made us fight every inch of the way and I feel very drained after that."
Taylor, who moved to Ireland three years ago, also paid tribute to the condition of the course and added: "We couldn't have returned a score like that without the greens being in such superb condition. This is one of the best courses, I've played on all year."
The victory was Taylor's second in 18 days, following his win in a pro-am at his home course, an event which saw Devine finish as runner up.
"It's great to win with him rather than be second to him," said the 29-year-old Devine. "We've been playing well for a couple of months and felt good going into this event. If one of us struggled, the other stepped in and we've worked well as a team."
Meanwhile, Ambler and Wainwright, who finished second on 28-under-par, earned £3,250 and Andrew Sherborne (Kendleshire) and David Hutton (Hamptworth), who were a stroke further behind in third place, collected £2,500.
SkyCaddie's UK managing director Jackie Hitchcock said: "What a fabulous final at Forest Pines. The course and facilities were fantastic and the players all enjoyed the set up of the course.
"SkyCaddie is delighted to have been title sponsor of this great competition again this year. It gives us an opportunity to demonstrate the SkyCaddie products to players from all over the country.
"And it was really encouraging to see how many PGA professionals throughout the country have, and use their own SkyCaddies, and readily see the advantages of using a device that not only speeds up play but is accurate in doing so.
"Congratulations to all that took part in the event this year and especially the winners."
The tournament was the most prestigious staged by Forest Pines, the Lincolnshire-located hotel and 27-hole golf course, and is hoped to be the first of many.
Chris Cottam, regional director of Q Hotels, Forest Pines' parent company, said. "Having the SkyCaddie PGA Fourball Championship here has given us a taste to host more here.
"We're hoping to stage three senior tour events and we're also keen to host the Walker Cup, Vivendi Trophy and Solheim Cup.
"To that end we've submitted plans to create another nine holes, which would give us two 7,000 plus yards courses. If successful, we're hoping to enlist the help of former Open Champion Tony Jacklin with the design. It would be appropriate for him to be involved in a project in his home town."
09 October, 2009