Lodge Is Top Of The Class
23/06/2017
Alex Lodge came from behind to win the The Golf College Challenge at Lindfield Golf Club and earn himself a cool £650.
Shooting a second round five-under-par 63, Lodge (Calcot Park) edged out The Golf College’s Lewis Hinton on the first extra play-off hole to win the second event in The Crown Inn PGA South Assistants & Trainees Order of Merit 2017.
This is in obvious contrast to the Surrey-based amateur Hinton, who gained a wealth of valuable experience, including the unique memory of holing his 90 yard shot at the 36th hole to force his way into the play-off.
With two other victories this year and claiming the 2016-17 Titleist & FootJoy PGA South Winter Series Order of Merit, Lodge’s performance underlined his growing maturity.
Yet even he was surprised at the way things turned out. He said: “Starting with a one-over 69 left me some way down the field, but I was learning my way around the course.
"I made a much better go of things on the second day and as I was starting from the 10th, four birdies on my front nine certainly helped matters!”
Played over two rounds on what were the two warmest days this year, the first round was dominated The Golf College’s students.
Familiar with the tight Lindfield course, Hinton shot a fine opening round of one-under-par 67, but peers like Gemma Allman and Jack Finch delivered even more impressive cards of two-under 66 to set the pace as first round clubhouse leaders.
The event attracted 116 players, with the top 20 PGA Professionals and ties making the cut after day one to reduce the field to 60 players, while The Golf College’s students made up the remaining places in score order.
On day two everything changed, and apart from Hinton the final leaderboard’s top 10 places was a roll call of PGA Professionals led by Lodge whose 63 to finish on four-under-par 132 would eventually be the winning score.
Other notable performances included Chris Croucher from Singing Hills who shot two fine rounds of 68 and 65 for third spot on 133. This included his own chip-in eagle on his 35th hole, helping him towards a cheque for £530.
Summing up for The Golf College, Director of Golf and PGA Professional Paul Lyons said: “This event demonstrates the calibre of golfers we’re now attracting to The Golf College.
"I was really delighted that so many young PGA Professionals came to compete, and in the end it was one of their number that came from behind to win. It’s all helping to show that our educational approach works for those who are thinking seriously about a career in golf.”
