Third time lucky for Ian

Ian Campbell (Cheshunt Park) built on two close-calls in the Ingrebourne Valley Par-3 Championship by winning it at the third time of asking.

He was tied-third in 2015 and only lost in a play-off in last summer’s renewal.

Campbell, brandishing a new putter, holed more than his fair share of putts to finish on a six-under-par total of 48.

That left him two clear of James Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City) and Andrew Pestell (Chelmsford).

Campbell was two-under after the opening nine holes before turning on the style in his second loop of nine holes.

He made a couple of 20-footers from off the green as he recorded a four-under tally of 23 that included four birdies.

Campbell said: ““The one I held on the ninth – my eighth – was really important because last year I hit in the same putt and three-putted to end up in a play-off. But I thought ‘I’m going to go for it’ and hit it and it went straight in. It almost evened it up for last year, that one. It’s good to win – a good little lift.

“The new putter that I bought only last Saturday definitely helped. It’s the exact same model of putter that I used to use when I was in Austria and the Czech Republic. A friend of mine lent that to me and I’ve finally found another one. As soon as I saw it in a pro shop the other day I saw it and thought, ‘Right, I’m having that’.  It’s a beauty with a nice finish on it.”

The other highlight of the day was Murray White’s hole-in-one on the 86-yard second hole in the second round.