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Order of Merit Table

Position	Professional's	Club	Total
1	C Sainsbury	Brampton Heath	190
2	D Wood	Brampton Heath	150
3	S Lilly	Wellingborough	139
4	S Kier	Overstone	128
5	N Soto	Northant's County	121

 

 

Northamptonshire Professional County Tim Rouse won the annual European Professional Medal event. The event was played in the Algarve on two courses that have been venues on the European Tour. The courses played where San Lorenzo and Pinheiros Altos, the former is ranked in the top ten in Europe

Once again local company ‘Belmont Press’ generously sponsored the event, with the professionals playing for a prize fund of £6,100. The format of the competition was four rounds of medal play for the professionals; this was linked to a four-man team event.

The field of eleven teams featured 6 county-based professionals, four former county professionals and a sponsor’s invitation from Portugal. The weather was kind throughout the week with blue skies and warm temperatures, a real contrast to what had been the norm in the UK.

The first round played at San Lorenzo provided clear blue skies but a testing wind. Carl Sainsbury of Brampton Heath scored a level par round of 72. The round included two birdies, two bogey’s. This gave him a one shot lead over Nuno Campino from Praia del Rei, Tim Rouse, Ed Chapman (Northants County) and Bryn Morris (Kibworth) where all a further two shots back at three over.

In the team event Carl’s side of seasoned and regular Pro Am amateur players featuring Guy Loveland, Stuart young and Paul White recorded the only under par score, a fine score of 139, five under par to lead by six shots from Shane Owen. This set a trend that was to continue.

Day two was also at San Lorenzo the day was much quieter wind wise and the scoring in general reflected this change. Carl posted another steady level par score of 72, matched by Bryn Morris, Nuno Campino dropped back four shots returning a 77 but moving up to tie the lead was Tim Rouse who shot a flawless round of 69, three under par.

The team event saw a dramatic change take place, Carl’s team shot a dramatic 128 sixteen under par to jump well clear on the leader board. Tim Rose’s team shot 137 and James Whittemore’s team from Wellingborough 139. Shane Owen’s team scored 140 to just retained second spot.

After a days break the competition moved to Pinheiros Altos. This was a technical course that required accuracy and precision, with water coming into play on 12 holes, as a result many a player’s ball ended up in a watery grave. On a very blustery day only three players broke 80, Carl shot his third solid level par 72, followed by Nuno Campino with 73 and Tim a further shot back on 74.

The dramatic events of the second day were not surpassed in the third round of the team event. The conditions resulted in four teams shooting under par scores. Carl’s team continued to forge forwards returning 133, followed by N.P.G.A. Captain’s team (Barry Randall) on 139. Going into the last round Carl’s team were well clear but only six points separated the next seven places, prizes two to four were up for grabs.

Day four was a cooler day but with less wind and this reflected in the scoring in both events. Carl went into the last round with a two shot lead from Tim Rouse, with Nuno Campino a further five shots away it was looking like a two horse race. At the turn both players were level but a run of bogey’s saw Carl lose his lead, a birdie at 18 gave him a glimmer of hope that he may hold onto his lead, particularly as Tim was making a double bogey at the dangerous 17^th, a short par three that is a replica of the famous 17^th of the TPC course at Sawgrass. This calamity resulted in the scores being level once again, but Tim responded with a dramatic birdie at the 18th to clinch a one shot victory.

In the team event Carl’s team cemented victory with another steady under par round of 136, grabbing second place from Shane Owen’s team of Liam Davies, Alan Harrison and Matt DeCaro, was the team of Nuno Campino who shot 135, leaving Tim Rouse’s team of Chris Charlesworth, Gary Keyes and Joe McQuade in fourth place.

At the prize giving Phil Thomas of Belmont Press said ‘I have had the pleasure of sponsoring this event for many years and see two of the most popular county professionals have such a close battle to the end was a delight. ‘Tim receiving his winner’s cheque of £900 recognised the role played by the sponsor and thanked them for their continued and generous support of the event. He also noted the performance in particular of Carl and thanked his playing partners for their support throughout the week.

The Association thanks all the professionals and amateurs who supported this year’s event in what has been a difficult year financially and economically and look forward to welcoming to the 2011. Thanks also go to Richard Hudson of Link Events Golf for his successful management of the event in Portugal.

 

Professionals Individual
Score
Name	Score
Tim Rouse	4	292
Carl Sainsbury	5	293
Nuno Campino	9	297
Bryn Morris	13	301
Gary Wills	22	310
James Whittemore	27	315
Shane Owen	35	323
Ed Chapman	36	324
Stuart Kier	38	326
Richard Hudson	52	340
Barry Randall	N/R	N/R