Heath tops the leaderboard at Woodcote Park

James Heath took some time out from the European Tour to win the Woodcote Park Pro-Am by one stroke from James Ford after shooting an impressive four-under-par 68.

Ford in turn edged out the 70s of Lee-on-the-Solent duo James Ablett and Jon Barnes.

On what then proved to be the warmest day of 2017 so far, Heath made an unusual start by bogeying the first, eagling the second and then birdying the third.

Two more birdies at the sixth and ninth got him to four-under, but bogeys at the 11^th and 13^th threatened to take him out of contention.

Suitably inspired, he produced two more birdies in the last three holes at the 16^th and 18^th to snatch victory from Ford and claim the top prize of £800.

Out in one-under, Ford charged through the 12^th and the 13^th to reach three-under and threaten the lead, only to bogey the 14^th and 16^th; two impressive birdies on the trot down the last two holes lifted him into second spot on his own and a cheque for £650.

Three-under at the turn, Ablett reached four-under after a birdie at the 12^th, but a bogey at the next followed by a double bogey at the 15^th spoiled his card, marginally improved by a final birdie.

Barnes was also three-under at the turn, but a run of bogey, birdie, bogey from the 13^th to the 15^th left him tied with Ablett.

Ford was full of praise for the Woodcote Park course and its greens, saying: “The course was in excellent condition, and the greens were top notch, but I couldn’t quite find enough putts to join James Heath at the top of the leaderboard.

"All the same, second’s a fair result and I’m sure I’m due a round or two soon when it all comes together!”