Tyneside-based professional James Wilson has taken the early lead in the North East & North West PGA’s season-long Mizuno Order of Merit – as he aims to defend the title he won in 2023.
James holds top spot after four of this season’s five Pro Series events, with Carlisle Golf Centre’s Craig Goodfellow and Grange over Sands’ Wil Marklew close behind in second and third place respectively.
Wil topped the standings in the first Pro Series event with a six under-par 66 at Brampton as James finished second and Craig was third. At Silloth, John Harrison and Martyn Stubbings led the way with level par rounds of 72, as Craig finished in a tie for third place alongside Jonathan Graham and James was fifth.
James then led the field at Newbiggin with a seven under-par 65 as Craig was one of eight players in a tie for second place with rounds of 69. In the fourth Pro Series event at Whitley Bay, three players – David Clark, James Harper and Tom Robson – shot two under-par rounds of 70 to share first place, while Wil picked up points for his T6 finish.
The Pro Series wraps up on Monday May 20 at Teesside Golf Club before the first 36-hole tournament of the year, the NE/NW PGA Championship, takes place on May 28 at Slaley Hall.
Meanwhile, Morpeth’s David Clark topped the leaderboard in the opening club pro am of the season. David led the field at Bishop Auckland with a seven under-par 65 to win at Bishop for the fourth time in five starts. He finished three shots clear of second placed Ken Ferrie, while Ross Crowe and Vince Guest finished in a tie for third place one shot further back.
