Copt Heath Golf Club
2023 Rotary Pro Am
(Pro-Am Winners: L to R Keyur Joshi, Andy Shah, Hardik Parikh and professional Blake Ellison)
The 37th holding of the annual Rotary Club of Knowle and Dorridge Charity Pro-Am was a great success, raising over £5,500 for local charities, including AgeUK Solihull, Mind and Prostate Cancer.
23 teams, each captained by a leading PGA professional competed in a best two from four stroke play format. The weather was brilliant and many positive comments were received about the presentation of the Copt Heath Golf Course, the catering and the general organisation of the event.
The winning Professional was James Freeman from Retford Golf Club shooting 2 under. Andrew Willey was close second at 1 under from Oakmere Park Golf Club and there was a three way tie for 3rd place at level par with Sam Dodds, Paul Streeter, and Craig Shave.
The Pro-Am team event was won by Hull Golf Course, led by Professional Blake Ellison recording a score of 130 strokes. Brockton Hall came Second with 131, Paul Streeter showing the way and including superb performance by Copt Heath player Lauren Bessford, who also won the nearest the Pin in Two on the 18th.
Third was the team from Retford GC at 132, Fourth place was tied at 135 with two Copt Heath teams challenging, but on count back the place went to the team of John Nosworthy, Brian Parkin and Keith White being led by Pro Andrew Willey, pipping Captain Peter McGarry, Sir Terry Morgan and Andy Foulkes with their Pro Craig Shave.
The final place, with a score of 136, was the mixed team of Copt Heath players led by Professional Aaron Lansberry with Kay Herd, Lizzie Brown and David Fleet.
As always, the spot prizes called for extra concentration by both Professional and Amateurs alike.
Nearest the Pin on 3rd (Professional) Meghan Hopkins
Nearest the Pin in 2 on 16th (Professional) Craig Shave
Long Drive Ladies 15th (Amateur) Charlie Blakeman
Nearest the Pin 5th (Amateur) Nathan Hillier
Nearest the Pin 13th (Amateur) Jason Evans
Nearest the Pin in 2 18th (Amateur) Lauren Bessford
Long Drive Mens (Amateur) Jacob Parsons
Rotary Club President Robert Pannifer thanked the Copt Heath staff for their assistance in putting on such a prestigious and successful event. Professional James Freeman commented in his thank you speech that “the course was presented immaculately, the catering was excellent and the general friendliness of the club was second to none”.
Will Dunn, Midlands PGA Tournament Director, presented the Professional prizes and said that the event had been “one of the best he had attended, with a superb course, excellent post golf atmosphere and very well organised”.
Becky Jacob, Fundraising Manager for AgeUK Solihull, thanked everyone for participating and making the event very successful. The proceeds will be used to support the needy in the local community and the results of the Pro-Am will really make a difference to people’s lives.
A final thank you to all that attended, played, sponsored, donated and organised this special event.
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