Eagle eyed Ablett lights up Hayling

The Titleist & FootJoy PGA South Winter Series opened with a bang at Hayling when James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) fired off two eagles and two birdies for his winning card of 40 points.

Collecting the £400 winner’s cheque, the consistently successful Ablett commented: “After all the recent rain and wind, today we had dry conditions and not much wind at all, so as Hayling was in its usual top condition, we all had a great day’s golf in November.”

He added: “I’ve had a fairly quiet second half to my season, so winning here at Hayling was the ideal way to finish it off and head into the winter stretch.  We’re so lucky to be able to continue playing during the winter months, and at some great tracks too.”

Ablett opened well and an eagle at the seventh got him to four-under at the turn. A bogey at the 12^th was disappointing but another eagle at the par five 14^th put him back in front, and even a bogey up the last couldn’t take the smile off Ablett’s face.

Starting towards the end of the field of 47 players, Ablett dashed the hopes of Warren Harmston (Sunningdale Heath) who earlier on had battled around Hayling to notch up 39 points. Harmston did have the consolation a valuable ball, glove and shoe contract from the sponsors.

Level par at the turn despite three bogeys, he reached two-under after the 15^th and made one more at the 18^th to edge the foursome on 38 points of Jack Coulbert (Swanmore), Peter Tarver-Jones (West Hove), Harry Worner (Rustington) and Bertie Chambers (Betchworth Park) into third spot.

The next round in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA South Winter Series moves along the south coast and the opportunity to play one of Kent’s links, Littlestone, on 25^th November.

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