MACH SPEED AS MACHYNYS CLAIM TITLE

Home /

Destiny finally shone on Machynys Peninsula professional John Peters as he landed the PGA National Pro-Am Championship title at the third attempt aided by partner Adam Curtin. But it was far from easy for the Welsh duo as the overnight leaders, who held a five shot advantage over their nearest challengers going into the final 18 holes, survived a two-pronged attack from West Berkshire and Worthing in a gripping final round over Antalya Golf Club's PGA Sultan Course.

Peters, who was second in 1998 after losing in a play-off and third in 2002, eventually got his hands on the title and the £ 5,000 winner's cheque after he and Curtin secured a one shot win after finishing at 11-under-par.

The golfing gods were certainly on their side as Worthing, who started the day seven shots behind the leaders, and playing partners West Berkshire both saw birdie chances lip out on the final hole which would have forced a play-off.

But after two narrow misses a third may have been just too much for Peters after he and 18-year-old Curtin put themselves on the victory trail with an opening round 62 a day earlier.

'A lot of competitors put some reverse psychology on us saying 'we'd walked it' but I knew full well it was going be totally different,' said the 42-year-old.

'I knew that from my previous two finals when I came back from way behind. I knew someone would shoot low and there was a good chance it would be the pairing we were with, which is proved, as well as another team.

'Coming down the last it was just incredible as they had a putt to tie us and I thought 'here we go play-off again' but it horseshoes out and so I guess destiny played her card and it was my turn.

'Nothing's given in this game and that was true right down to the very final putt and after that I prefer being the hunter than the hunted."

The heat truly turned on the Welsh side down the back nine with Worthing and West Berkshire within a shot of drawing level and Peters admitted he was flagging at times, so was indebted to his five-handicap partner for keeping the ship steady.

'On the back nine the win felt so far away as I was feeling tired,' he said.

'I had a throbbing head and I was wilting a little bit. I hadn't been in that situation for a while but Adam, who was nervous, pulled one or two shots out of the bag.

'It's a team event. It's not one person in this it's two players and anyone thinking it's the pro doing all the scoring are totally wrong about that.

This was the 23rd staging of the PGA National Pro-Am Championship and the first time it has been staged in Turkey. The total prize fund for the event is £ 30,000.

PGA NATIONAL PRO-AM CHAMPIONSHIP

Antalya Golf Club, Friday 14 and Saturday 15 December 2007

Final scores:

Pos Score Club Pro Amateur (h'cap) Rds

1 131 (-11)Machynys Peninsula John Peters Adam Curtin (5) 62 69

2= 132 (-10) West Berkshire Paul Simpson Mark Kendal (2) 67 65

Worthing Stephen Rolley Adam Henty (9) 69 63

4 134 (-8) Tidworth Garrison Charlie Gold Michael Strong (13) 70 64

5 135 (-7) Ardglass Philip Farell Alan Craig (17) 68 67

6= 137 (-5) Longcliffe David Mee Stephen Marlow (14) 72 65

Millbrook Rob Brightman Richard Langham (6) 70 67

8= 139 (-3) Fynn Valley Paul Wilby Lee Tweed (9) 68 71