MICHAEL NESBIT claimed his first PGA EuroPro Tour title after a dramatic play-off win at The Golf Pages Trophy, held at Whittlebury Park in Northamptonshire.
Nesbit, attached to Matfen Hall GC, defeated Jack Doherty at the second extra hole to take the £10,000 winners’ cheque after both players had carded ten-under-par totals of 206.
Remarkably, Nesbit had only managed a two-over-par round of 74 on the final day as he struck three bogeys and just one birdie.
But Doherty had been unable to capitalise after his 63 on the second day had shot him in to contention.
The Vale of Glamorgan man also hit a 74, with a more inconsistent four birdies and six bogeys, as the pair were forced to replay the 18th hole to find a winner.
They both struck birdies first time around so the last hole was played again and on this occasion Doherty found the bunker from the tee and then hit his third shot in to some advertising banners behind the green.
A superb recovery chip gave him a four-foot putt for a par, but Nesbit chipped his third shot close enough to give him a birdie-putt which he sunk to take the title.
Having bogeyed the same hole to lose his lead at the death, Nesbit was understandably delighted to have prevailed at the play-off.
“I’ve won some PGA regional events before but nothing as big as this so I’m really pleased, he said.
“I made hard work of it and the conditions were tough with the wind which made putting difficult.
“Jack pushed me all the way and either of us could have won so this means a lot to me.”
With strong winds making low scoring tough on the final day, there was little danger of a repeat of day two when Hinkley’s Jonathan Herbert broke the course record with a 62.
Indeed, the top five golfers going in to the final round all held their positions as the chasing pack was unable to make an impression on the leaders.
Australian John Wade, Ireland’s Justin Kehoe and Andrew George (Ely City) shared third place, a single shot behind Nesbit and Doherty on 207 (nine-under-par).
FINAL LEADERBOARD
Pos |
Score | Par | Name | Represents | R1 | R2 | R3 | PRIZE£ |
| 1 | 206 | -10 | Michael Nesbit (ENG) | Matfen Hall | 68 | 64 | 74 | £10,000 |
| 2 | 206 | -10 | Jack Doherty (SCO) | Vale Of Glamorgan | 69 | 63 | 74 | £5,000 |
| 3= | 207 | -9 | Justin Kehoe (IRE) | Ireland | 68 | 70 | 69 | £1,941 |
| Andrew George (ENG) | Ely City | 67 | 70 | 70 | £1,941 | |||
| John Wade (AUS) | Australia | 71 | 64 | 72 | £1,941 | |||
| 6= | 208 | -8 | James Healey (ENG) | Hull | 75 | 64 | 69 | £1,025 |
| Phil Worthington (ENG) | Donnington Grove | 72 | 67 | 69 | £1,025 | |||
| Colm Moriarty (IRE) | Glasson Golf Hotel | 69 | 68 | 71 | £1,025 | |||
| Matthew Green (ENG) | Sprowston Manor | 67 | 70 | 71 | £1,025 |
Pos |
Score | Par | Name | Represents | R1 | R2 | R3 | PRIZE£ |
| 1 | 206 | -10 | Michael Nesbit (ENG) | Matfen Hall | 68 | 64 | 74 | £10,000 |
| 2 | 206 | -10 | Jack Doherty (SCO) | Vale Of Glamorgan | 69 | 63 | 74 | £5,000 |
| 3= | 207 | -9 | Justin Kehoe (IRE) | Ireland | 68 | 70 | 69 | £1,941 |
| Andrew George (ENG) | Ely City | 67 | 70 | 70 | £1,941 | |||
| John Wade (AUS) | Australia | 71 | 64 | 72 | £1,941 | |||
| 6= | 208 | -8 | James Healey (ENG) | Hull | 75 | 64 | 69 | £1,025 |
| Phil Worthington (ENG) | Donnington Grove | 72 | 67 | 69 | £1,025 | |||
| Colm Moriarty (IRE) | Glasson Golf Hotel | 69 | 68 | 71 | £1,025 | |||
| Matthew Green (ENG) | Sprowston Manor | 67 | 70 | 71 | £1,025 |
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