Appleyard tops Wootton and Wallis in the Algarve

A 10-under par total of 206 saw Sittingbourne’s Peter Appleyard sweep home to victory by two shots in the Golf Escapes Algarve PGA South Overseas Pro-Am.

Played around Laranjal, Monte Rei and Quinta do Lago South, Appleyard finished ahead of current and former Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit champions Richard Wallis and Adam Wootton in second, and Darren Walkley also finished runner-up on 208.

Appleyard took home a winner’s cheque of £825 and went the whole hog by winning the team event too with is three amateurs.  

“This is one terrific event,” said Appleyard. “Golf Escapes and The PGA laid laid on a wonder four days and three top courses, which we played in weather that was miles warmer than back in the UK. To then come out on top was truly the icing in the cake.”

Appleyard opened with a topsy turvy level par round of 72 at Laranjal on November 14. His round included no less than five birdies which left him five shots off the pace behind first round leader Wallis and Chris Gane (Left Handed Golf at Silvermere) who both shot 67s.

The stunning Monte Rei was the destination for the second round the following day and Appleyard didn’t get off to the best of starts after picking up a double bogey at the third.

But four birdies in five holes turned things round, and another four birdies on the back nine saw Appleyard finish on 67, three shots better than his nearest rival.

Now in with a shout against in-form Wallis and Wootton, Appleyard played flawless golf around Quinta do Lago’s South course. Three birdies on the way out were combined with two more on the way home for his 67, which proved good enough to win by two shots.

Wootton’s seven birdies were spoiled by two dropped shots, while Wallis’s putter went cold and would only deliver two birdies and an eagle for his closing 69.

For a full list of results from the Golf Escapes Algarve PGA Overseas Pro-Am click here.