Nessling's new course record wins PGA Surrey Open
28/07/2017
Paul Nessling from Cooden Beach shot a stunning eight-under-par 64 to overtake the first round leaders and claim victory in the PGA Surrey Open Championship by two strokes.
In the third event of the 2017 Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit, the Sussex man overcame blustery conditions around Clandon Regis Golf Club to earn the title and £2,000.
It left Richings Park’s Christopher Rodgers (69, 68), Barnehurst’s Jordan Godwin (68, 69) and Surrey Downs’s Craig Cowper (67, 70) trailing in his wake on 137 despite their impressive second rounds.
Four behind the leaders after his opening round of 71, Nessling said afterwards that he had felt in good shape and was looking for a low number.
He said: "I’ve been playing some of my best golf in the last two weeks, and after the pain had eased this morning from a trip to the physio on Tuesday, I felt confident I could put another decent round together."
The confidence was there for all to see as Nessling, 27, made four birdies on the front nine to reach the turn in four-under-par. Now in sight of pole position, he birdied the 10th to get to six-under for the tournament.
Nessling's only bad shot came on the 14th when he ended up semi-blocked by a tree, the Cooden Beach player produced some more magic to get on the green and holed the putt for another birdie.
With his putter working well - Nessling only needed 24 putts all day. He birdied the 16th and the 18th for good measure, setting a new course record of 64, beating that set by lefty star James Ablett.
Reflecting on his bogey-free round, Nessling added: "I knew I was getting in the right position swing-wise, and that always makes me feel good about my game.
"My putter was having one of those days, but when you’re on, you’ve got to make the most of it, haven’t you!"
Of the runners up, Rodgers probably came closest. Having deuced the second, a double bogey six at the fourth gave him something to think about. So he buckled down and made five more birdies up to the 15th, just running out of steam with three holes to go and at the point where Nessling had finished with two more birdies.
Canterbury’s Richard Wallis remains at the top of the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit, pursued by Sittingbourne’s Peter Appleyard and St. George’s Hill’s Andy Raitt, while Nessling’s jumped up to eighth place.
In the Money List, ProAgenda.com’s Guy Woodman is marginally ahead of Lee-on-the-Solent’s star left hander James Ablett, with Wallis very close behind in third.
The next event in the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit is the PGA Kent Open Championship on the 21st and 22nd of August, where the South's PGA Professionals skills will be tested over one of the Englands top links courses, Prince’s.
For more information about the PGA Surrey Open Championship or for a full list of results click here.
