Tarchetti wins PGA Royal Links Championship
17/10/2017
Prince’s own Director of Golf and PGA Professional Anthony Tarchetti won the PGA Royal Links Championship Pro-Am at Prince’s and Royal Cinque Ports.
The new Captain of The PGA in England (South) took home the winner’s cheque for £1,000 after shooting two rounds of 70 and 71 for a total of two-under par 141.
He edged out The PGA in England (South) Money List leader, Lee-on-the-Solent’s James Ablett by one shot, and Canterbury’s Richard Wallis, the new Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit champion by two.
Tarchetti was delighted to win, but it wasn’t all plain sailing as he explained: “On the first round the weather was pretty wild, and while it helped on the front nine, birdies were still far from easy. As you faced the wind down the homeward stretch, you were doing well to survive out there!"
“Apart from the fierce wind, everything else made for another great links championship. The courses were in top nick, the organisation was terrific, and fortunately for me I managed to find top gear in the last four holes to take the money!”
In the team event, amateur Tony Hobbs and Elliot Groves (Romsey) won by three shots from the S&G Air Team led by Charlie Wilson (Prince’s).
After the first round on Monday around Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Tarchetti’s one-under-par 70 was a shot ahead of Left Handed Golf at Silvermere’s Chris Gane. Four-under after the 10th, the gale force winds on the home holes meant Tarchetti bogeyed the 15th, 16th and 18th to finish on a one-under 70.
Tarchetti’s back nine of two-over was a good result. Gane managed an impressive back nine of just one-over, but others like Ablett and Wallis were coming home in six and eight-over, emphasising the difficulties posed by the ferocious winds on Deal’s back nine.
In calmer conditions for the final round at Prince’s, Tarchetti reached the turn in two-under while Gane slipped back. An uncharacteristic run of bogey, bogey, double bogey through the 10th, 11th and 12th meant Tarchetti’s lead evaporated and birdies were needed fast.
He duly made a birdie at the 13th only to drop another shot at the 14th, but three birdies on the trot saw Tarchetti ease into overall pole position on the leaderboard and a handsome home win.
For a full list of results from the PGA Royal Links Championship Pro-Am click here.
