East Renfrewshire duo thrive in the Antalya sunshine

29/11/2022

Gavin Hay and Ian Wardlaw (amateur) of East Renfrewshire Golf Club lead the 2022 St. James’s Place National Pro-Am by two points after a thrilling opening day in the Turkish sunshine at Antalya Golf Club.

An incredible 46-point round gives the Scottish team a narrow lead in the Grand Final of this year’s event at PGA National Turkey thanks to an impressive opening front nine, with Caerphilly Golf Club and Wildernesse Club sitting tied on 44 points in second place.

Your round 1 leaders of the #SJPNationalProAm Grand Final 🏌️‍♂️🏌️‍♂️@EastRenGC's PGA Professional Gavin Hay and amateur Iain Wardlaw finished with an astounding 46 points and lead by two going into the final round 👏@sjpwealth | @OceanTeeGolf pic.twitter.com/QqhH2z0ZwN
— The PGA (@ThePGA) November 29, 2022

Hay and Wardlow made two nett eagles in three holes from the seventh to the ninth, walking onto the back nine seven-under-par. A solid three-under back nine brought the pair into the clubhouse without dropping a shot, as they sit firmly in the driver’s seat heading into the final round.

Reflecting on their round, PGA Professional Gavin Hay said “We kick-started our round on the front nine with two eagles. I managed to eagle the par-5 seventh and then Iain made a birdie (nett eagle) on the ninth.”

Hay’s amateur partner, Windlow, added: “Credit to Gavin, I was mostly a spectator today he was excellent.” Asked how they will approach the final round, Windlow joked: “We just need to play the same way again, I hope Gavin plays the same way again!”

The Scottish pair were not the only players in red hot form at Antalya Golf Club. The teams from Caerphilly and Wildernesse have positioned themselves in the hunt for the title, sitting just two shots back after impressive rounds of 44 points.

PGA Professional Darran Clark (Caerphilly) has had a unique couple of weeks, as he also competed in the final of the 2021 PGA National Pro-Am, which was held last week at the same venue. The Welshman said: “It is like my second home now! It’s been great, it’s been lovely to play on a course which is flat, dry, warm and sunny.”

After 12 Regional Finals with more than 200 entries, it all comes down to just 18 holes tomorrow in the final round of the Grand Final as we find out who our 2022 St. James’s Place National Pro-Am champions will be.

CLICK HERE to view a full list of results from the opening round of the St. James’s Place National Pro-Am.