FERN GRIMSHAW SHARES TOP PLACE IN SOMERSET PRO-AM

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
West Region PGA Assistants' champion Fern Grimshaw (Wessex Golf Centre) continued her most successful season as a professional by sharing top place in the Farrington pro-am in Somerset with late starter Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre).
Her first pro-am success was founded on a remarkable spurt over the closing eight holes in which she made five birdies, including three in a row from the 11th and then at the 15th and 16th.
"I hope this win will be the first of many," she said. "I played well and enjoyed the golf course that was in tremendous condition after the terrible recent weather."
It was the 25-year-old newly-qualified professional's fourth win of the summer. She shared first place in the Minchinhampton Ladies event, also won a WPGA tournament at Chestfield before her greatest success in the Assistants' event at Sherborne.
An outright victory in the pro-am sponsored by Natures Flame looked probable until Licata matched the two-under-par 70 in the penultimate group.
The Bristol player held a one-shot lead until he dropped a shot at the 16th and missed a five-foot putt for birdie at the 17th.
John Goymer from nearby Mendip is still cursing himself for not winning. A birdie on the first, an eagle on the par five ninth and another birdie at the 15th took the former Farrington course record holder to four-under-par. But he dropped a shot at the 16th and made a triple bogey at the 17th.
He shared fourth with James Maxwell (Trefloyne) and Joe Ferguson (Celtic Manor) behind third-placed Jon Bevan (Wessex) who shot 71.
Trick shot and long-driving specialist Paul Barrington (Players Club) had never won a pro-am team prize in 24 years as a professional until this year. He broke his duck in the Microsoft Masters Pro-Am at Bowood and has now added a second success.
This time he was helped by home players Terry Stacey, Steve Brixey and Malcolm Clark who all weighed in to score 13-under-par 131.
They beat another home team led by the club's teaching professional Terry Williams with Nigel Denham, Steve Maggs and Somerset county champion Tom Small contributed five birdies.
The team award was won by with Cardiff Golf club assistant Lewis Jones helped another Farrington team of former Somerset county champion Michaela Chivers, Chris Coles and Rob Riccio into third place 132, winning on countback from Ian Ferrie (West Wilts).