The North East & North West PGA calendar has moved into its autumn swing with more success for our region’s top professionals at home and further afield – including the first Pro Pairs event at Rockliffe Hall and a return to the winner’s circle for Andy Paisley.
A highlight of every season, the region’s pros headed north for the two-day Archerfield Autumn Pro Am this month with 30 teams making up the field. Paisley returned to the top spot for the first time in 2017 with an 11 under-par total – six shots clear of the field with a four under-par round on the Fidra course and a seven under-par score on the Dirleton course.
”I’ve been working on my game a lot this season and playing some solid golf when I can get out,” said Paisley. “My attitude was good on day two – I knew I needed to keep pushing with such a strong field and went out and attacked the golf course. I played nicely and putted well in both rounds which was the key.
“This shows working with so many good players can rub off on you at times!”
Stephen Kyle and James Harper finished in a tie for second place as Paisley also led his team of Ian Crawford, Gary Neal and Ian Paxton to the team title on 37 under-par.
The first event in a new series of professional betterball tournaments saw Sharpley’s Simon Robinson team up with Teesside’s Vince Guest to win at Rockliffe Hall with a seven under-par total.
Home pro Jon Stacey teamed up with Tom Perry from Abbeydale to tie for second place alongside Northern Golfer columnist John Harrison and Tynedale pro Martin Forster – both pairs finishing on four under-par. The second Pro Pairs event takes place at Cleveland Golf Club on November 20.
A full report from the Portugal Pro Am – featuring this year’s Match Play Pairs champions – will be in our next issue.
