Hemstock and Brackley kick off 2018 in style
29/01/2018
Billy Hemstock is currently top of the bill in the PGA South Winter Series, supported by Titleist & FootJoy, as the 2018 PGA South schedule kicked off with a two-day test at Open venue Prince’s.
Roehampton’s Hemstock enjoyed a second place in the first event by shooting 40 points, two behind winner Manston’s Max Brackley, who has become something of a Prince’s specialist.
Blessed by calm weather and a course in perfect conditions, in his opening round Brackley reigned supreme, going out in four-under par.
While he dropped two shots on the way back home, four birdies on the homeward stretch gave him a round of six-under par 66 and an untouchable 42 points.
Brackley’s performance earned him the £300 winner’s cheque and as the day’s leading Assistant, the highly prized Titleist & FootJoy ball, glove and shoe contract.
As the wind picked up on the second day, Hemstock was two-under after 13 holes, but like his opening round, he dropped shots – this time at the 14th which again threatened to undo all the good work.
However, a birdie at the 15th kept him in the frame and he finished on one-under and 37 points.
Rival Gus Mottershead (Hampton Court Palace) had dropped a shot on his final hole, losing his slender lead and settling for a tie with the man from Roehampton.
While the two winners each took home cheques for £260, Hemstock’s double on the 14th still had repercussions as Mottershead won the leading Assistant’s prize of the sponsor’s ball, glove and shoe contract, thanks to a count back that came down to the last six holes.
But it’s Hemstock who’s in the lead for the overall Winter Series Order of Merit, with Royal Mid Surrey based Oscar Granstrom Livesey hard on his heels.
February sees the PGA South’s Winter Series tee up for the Ascot Swing with three events on the trot: Swinley Forest on 20 and 22 February with a day on The Berkshire’s Blue Course sandwiched in between.
