James Ross Wins The Nokia Masters At Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate
Going into the final day trailing by one shot, Ross of Royal Burgess Golf Club, posted a final round of 71 (-1) to clinch victory from under the nose of playing partner Calum Fyfe and amateur Bradley Bowden, who tied for second on -12.
Barry Anderson, managing director of Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate said: “The club was delighted to welcome the tour back for another year. The Nokia Masters at Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate is a great showcase for golf as anyone can walk the course with the pro golfers for free, and you really feel part of an exciting event.”
Ross who is getting married in three weeks, said: “It was very tough. I managed to stay patient I thought. I had no real idea what the scores were, to be honest up until the 13th. I knew that the guys in our group were all kind of similar. It certainly wasn’t easy out there. You’d think so (enjoying playing in heavy winds), being from Scotland but I’ve never been a fan of playing in serious wind like that. I guess I will like it now”
Fyfe (Golfing4Life) recovered from going one over on the front nine to finish two under for a round of 70. Whilst Bowden, who finished third at the English Amateur Championship last Saturday, finished second after superb rounds of 63, 71 and 70.
Daniel Young (Kingsbarns Pro Academy) kept up with the pace for much of the championship and tied for the lead at several points, going one-under for his final knock, to finish fourth in his first turn out since victory in The Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters.
Overnight leader Neil Fenwick fell away to finish tied seventh at nine-under along with James Allan (Chelmsford Golf Club), Andrew Wilson (Rockliffe Hall), Sam Forgan (Stowmarket Golf Club/ ISEKI) and George Mullins (Langley Park / Lewis Access).
Meanwhile, Conor O’Neil (Pollok / Mearns Castle) and Joe Brice (SRL Limited) went five deep each for the best rounds of the day, where the wind really made a difference.
The win for James Ross moves him up to eleventh in the Race To Desert Springs whilst Daniel Young moves up to fourth.