George’s day at Ely

Andrew George (Ely City) made good use of home soil as he led the East region’s 16 qualifiers for the English PGA Championship.

Fifty nine players teed up at Ely City but it was the man that knew the course best who prevailed.

George shot a three-under-par round of 69 to top the leaderboard. He finished a shot clear of Matt Stables (Coastal Golf Academy), Stephen Topping (Old Fold Manor) and Oliver Smith (Ashton On Mersey)

George, who next month will celebrate 25 years as the Cambridgeshire club’s head professional, was one-over-par early on but sprang to life with a birdie burst from the sixth.

He made a two at the tricky 209-yard hole, which was playing into the breeze. At the following par-4 hole George drove the green before picking up another stroke. He also birdied the eighth.

The two par-5s on the back nine would provide George with further gains and he could even afford to make a bogey on the closing hole.

Now he can look forward to a June 27-29 trip to Saunton, host venue for the 54-hole English PGA Championship.

George said: “I have played Saunton before but it was a long time ago. I am really looking forward to returning.

“I had a bit of a slow start in the qualifier but a birdie on the sixth hole got me going. I hit 4-iron into about six feet and made the putt.

“Birdies at the next two holes really gave me momentum for the rest of my round. I’m delighted to qualify.”

The real drama unfolded late in the day during a thrilling playoff. Four professionals were vying for two spots but it was soon three men standing as Oliver Fullerton (Girton) made bogey at the opening hole in extra time.

A gripping battle ensued between Aaron Cox (Elsenham Golf& Leisure), Craig Housden (Little Channels Golf Centre) and Luke Ackers (West Herts).

Housden, who saved par with a pitch and a putt at the first hole, made a fine two-putt from long range at the next.

At the third it was Ackers who showed nerves of steel, sinking a six-footer to stay in the game.

Cox was playing the best golf tee-to-green but he missed a short birdie putt at the fourth that would have seen him progress.

The drama came to a head at the fifth playoff hole where Ackers’ hopes sunk with a tee-ball that flew into a lateral water hazard.

Cox and Housden duly secured their pars to book their respective spots for the end-of-month showdown in Devon.