Win is just the job for Coles ahead of PGA Cup

Rob Coles (Maylands Golf & Country Club) gave himself a confidence shot ahead of the PGA Cup with a superb victory in the East Region Championship.

Coles, 45, will make his debut for Great Britain and Ireland next week at Foxhills but warmed up with a one-stroke success at Bishop’s Stortford.

The Essex ace shot a second-round 65 to surge up the field and finish at eight-under par – one clear of runner-up James Scade (Little Channels Golf Centre).

The win consolidated Coles’ spot at the top of the Order of Merit and his place in the end-of-season PGA Play-Offs is all but assured.

He said: “I’m really pleased to win. Most of the guys playing the Order of Merit events, their goal is to get in the top-three and it’s no different for me.

“I want to get to the Play-Offs. That’s a real big goal of mine and this is obviously a massive step towards that.

“I was quite mindful of this being my last tournament before the PGA Cup and I’m delighted that I can go there off the back of a win.

“As long as I was showing a bit of form I’d have been happy but this is an extra bonus. Any time you win a trophy, it gives you a massive boost of confidence.”

Now Coles, who was a regular on the European Tour for many years, can’t wait for his PGA Cup bow.

Rob Coles is receiving the trophy from Bishop's Stortford captain Stuart Henderson 

He added: “You’re almost counting the sleeps down! It will be great fun – they’re great lads in the team and around it. I look forward to meeting up with them.”

Coles’ six-under second round was full of highlights. The first of his seven birdies came at the second hole, while there was an eagle at the next.   

He said: “Whenever I’ve come to this course, it’s always quite tricky to score round here but with it being a little softer, it was slightly easier this week. The greens were receptive, just a bit softer, and you could fire it in a bit more.”

Scade, who was denied in a play-off in the last Order of Merit event at Bentley, again went close. He shot a second-round 66, including a superb 22-footer for birdie on the 17th hole.

That left him needing to pick up a further stroke at the last to tie Coles and he duly arrowed in a fine 5-iron approach from 198 yards to leave an 18-footer from the fringe behind the flag.

But this time his birdie attempt stayed above ground to leave Coles celebrating a second success in the East Region Championship 10 years after he claimed the title at Nazeing.

Scade said: “I didn’t play my best for the two days so I’m delighted to finish on that score, anyway. I’m really happy with how I played the last three (holes). To hit shots like that under pressure was brilliant.”  

Craig Housden (Little Channels Golf Centre) shone with a second-round 65 to share third spot with talented trainee Nathan Day (Millbrook). Housden crammed no less than nine birdies into his round.

Day, 20, gave the best performance of his fledgling career, also finishing at five-under.

He said: “I’ve been putting in a lot of time and effort into my game = getting a lot of practice in. So it’s nice to see results showing that all the hard work is paying off. But it is a little bit of a surprise – I’m not going to lie. I’m very pleased.”

A further highlight from two great days’ golf was the hole-in-one by Chris Grant (Garon Park Golf Complex) on the opening day. He made an ace with an 8-iron at the 17th, which was playing 174 yards. Grant, who finished tied-eighth, has now made two holes-in-one this season.

The final Order of Merit event – the East Anglian Open – will take place at The Rayleigh Club on September 20-21.