Elliott and Garcia victorious in Suffolk

Crue Elliott (Sandy Lodge) and amateur partner Ben Garcia emerged as fitting winners of the Marston’s Beer PGA Autumn Classic.

A year ago, the duo just missed out on the title, losing on countback. But this time it was their turn to triumph in exactly the same fashion after they finished on 82 points –alongside Stuart Brown (Thorpe Wood) and Jody Greenall.

Elliott and Garcia opened with 38 points in the stableford greensomes at Felixstowe Ferry. However, they mustered 44 points at Woodbridge in the second day’s better ball – two more than Brown and Greenall’s tally.

Elliott, 33, said: “We were due one. Ben is a good golfer who hits the ball fantastically. He’s off an 18-handicap and in that format he can be deadly.

“It was good fun. I enjoy Ben’s company and I think that’s the most important thing in that format.”

On the opening day, Elliott and Garcia began brilliantly, reaching seven-under through just five holes. But Elliott felt that their hot start may have hindered them as they played under too much expectation on the back nine, collecting just a single point in their final three holes.

They regrouped overnight and decided to play each other for a fiver in the better ball at Woodbridge. It was an approach that focussed the mind as Garcia notched an early birdie for net eagle, while Elliott contributed with a couple of quick-fire birdies.

Late in the round, it was the amateur who was again to the fore. At the tricky par-4 second hole – their 16th – he was on the green in two before two-putting for a valuable three-pointer. And at the last, with Elliott in trouble over the back of the green, Garcia secured a net par, despite a poor drive.

Elliott assessed: “Neither of us lit it up, but we both played really solid and just really enjoyed it. Ben did really well to keep the round going.”

Elliott, who became a father in January, has not been able to commit as much time to playing as in past years. So, it was pleasing for him to sign off the 2017 East region schedule with a victory. And, just to show it was his day all round, it was he who claimed that fiver from his private match with playing partner Garcia!

He added: “It’s very nice to have a win and play some good golf to finish the year off.”

Last year’s Autumn Classic winners Rob Salter and Norman Dolby were third on countback this time. They edged ahead of Ben Hutton (Sudbrook Manor) and Andrew Green after finishing on 81 points – the same total also recorded by Michael Skipper (Eaton) and Sharon Allen.

For a full list of results from the Marston’s Beer PGA Autumn Classic click here.