Bishoprigg’s Rob Arnott sailed to victory as he became the third successive Scot to win the Silversea Senior PGA Professional Championship.
The 52-year-old followed in the footsteps of Kenny Hutton (Downfield) and Fraser Mann (Carnoustie Links) as he captured the Bernard Hunt Trophy, and cheque for £6,000, at Foxhills in Surrey, which he hailed as ‘the biggest win of his career’.
Starting the day with a two-shot advantage over South Winchester’s Richard Adams, Arnott’s lead was never troubled as the breezy conditions and testing nature of the Bernard Hunt course enabled him to protect his lead.
Having previously chalked up two sub-par rounds in a rain-affected championship, Arnott’s final round of three-over-par 76 was still sufficient for him to ‘fall over the line’ after a double bogey at the last saw him finish the week on one-under-par 217
His round was a mixed affair with four bogeys and three birdies also on his card. But it was sufficient to claim a two-shot victory over defending champion Mann, one of only two players to break par on the final
Arnott, who hadn’t made the cut on his previous two appearances at Foxhills, said: “This has to be the best thing I’ve won. This is a national event and I’ve never won a national event so this has got be up there as number one. It feels fantastic. I made it quite hard towards the end. I had a four shot lead coming down the last I thought I’d just plod my way up and was a wee bit careless as I missed from six inches. But I am delighted as I worked hard all day.
“Conditions certainly helped me. I had a couple of shots lead at the start of the day and only two guys are under par so no-one was going to go five or six under in these conditions.”
Defending champion Mann shot a well-crafted final round of two-under 71, which saw only one dropped shot – at the 10th – with three birdies for good measure. It left him at one-over and picking up a cheque for £4,500.
He said: “I played very steady all week. I knew par would be there or thereabouts with the conditions being so difficult. I just had to keep my head down and just keep chipping and putting and just try and stay in contention. I had my best round today and just gave myself lots of birdies and chances and made one or two. I know how difficult the course is I would have loved to have shot five or six under but I just did the best I could. It gives me satisfaction and makes me go away and try harder next year as I was absolutely exhausted yesterday. My legs were absolutely shot. I need to go away and lose three stone and get back in the gym again.
Mark Stokes of Rayleigh Golf Range completed the top three finishing at two-over for the week after a closing round of 75. It earned him £3,400.
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