Surrey showstoppers shine

Gary Marks snatched the 2013 Surrey Order of Merit off Jamie Harris with victory at the Hankley Common Pro-Am and a tie for second spot at the Malden Pro-Am.

The World of Golf pro carded six birdies in a four-under-par 67 to finish a shot clear of five other players on 68 with Nevill Golf Club’s Harris sharing alongside Paul Simpson (West Berks), Ben Clayton (Hindhead) Bernard White (Sutton Green) and Kieran Staunton (Woodcote Park).

Picking up a very welcome £900 for his performance boosted Marks’ chances of claiming the Order of Merit title with one event left.

Marks then took second spot at the Malden Pro-Am, shooting an even par 71 to tie with Stuart Hill (Richmond Park) and land The PGA in Surrey 2013 Order of Merit title.

However Marks and Hill were still six shots behind the winner, James Heath, whose scorching six-under-par 65 won the £700 winner’s cheque. Heath’s round was all the more sensational for being a genuine ‘tale of two halves’: level par at the turn, Heath produced no less than three eagles on the back nine par fives to finish on 65.

After the success of The PGA in Surrey Dinner Pro-Am earlier this year, The PGA in Surrey Chairman Guy Shoesmith has set up the 2014 Dinner Pro-Am event on Monday 24 February 2014. Once more the golf will be played at West Hill, Worplesdon and Woking, and the sumptuous dinner will again be in the banqueting rooms at the Epsom Downs race course.

Shoesmith was delighted with the response to the event, and the impact it’s had on the prize funds for Surrey events, commenting: “We’re very fortunate to have a lot of strong supporters who have shown their loyalty to the region. This has raised the profile of The PGA in Surrey’s events and ensured an excellent level of participation, while the winners’ have been well rewarded for their frequently spectacular golf.”

He continued:  “I hope that we will continue to enjoy their support, and I look forward to seeing lots of friends and colleagues at the 2014 Dinner Pro-Am on February 24^th.