Malden PGA professional Robert Hunter (right) and club captain Terence Higgins (left).
Image courtesy of
www.gettyimages.com
[25 August 2011] Robert Hunter admitted he played the best round of golf he has ever been involved in as he and Malden Golf Club captain Terence Higgins clinched a trip to Turkey in the latest Lombard Challenge qualifier at The Oxfordshire. The duo had officials reaching for the record books after one of the best scores ever recorded in the PGA Pro-Captain Tournament.
Higgins teamed up with PGA professional Hunter and the pair carded an outstanding 14-under-par score of 58. And that included a hole in one for Hunter at the fifth.
That put them three shots ahead of second placed Alan Lovelace and captain Luke Mitterhuber from Merrist Wood College who themselves were three shots ahead of three pairs tied on eight-under-par round of 64.
But it was Hunter and Higgins who dominated the event. And their display earned them a place in the £25,000 Lombard Challenge final which will be held at over PGA Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club from November 25-26. Hunter was ecstatic about the display.
He said: "That was the finest round of golf I have ever been involved in. Extraordinary is the word. We started superbly and got a
nett eagle at the fourth - and when I got a hole in one at the fifth you know it's going to be your day.
"That was the third hole in one of my 31-year professional career and they're always special. It was just a fantastic round and one of
those days when everything goes your way.
"About 12 years ago, my then-captain and I led this event throughout only to be pipped by the last group to come in.
Higgins added: "It was just outstanding. We were seven-under-par after five holes and you have to keep telling yourself that it's
one hole at a time.
"And we've both been playing long enough to know that you've never won until you come off at the 18th. But as we didn't expect to win,
the thought of an appearance in Turkey hasn't sunk in yet. I'm sure it'll be a great event though, myself and Robert get on well so
we'll enjoy it."
But Hunter played down any thoughts that the Surrey club pairing would now be favourites for the final after such an impressive
performance.
Hunter smiled: "Always remember when you wake up the next day, you're back to level par again!"
ENDS
THE LOMBARD CHALLENGE, a PGA Pro-Captain Tournament South (A) Regional Qualifier at The Oxfordshire Golf Club, Wednesday 24 August 2011
| Pos. | Score | Pro | Captain | Represents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58 (-14) | Robert Hunter | Terence Higgins | Malden |
| 2 | 61 (-11) | Alan Lovelace | Luke Mitterhuber | Merrist Wood College |
| 3= | 64 (-8) | Calum Callan | Ed Whiffen | Cottesmore |
| Leighton Oakley | Steve Johnson | Lexden Wood | ||
| Darren Parris | Tony Wilson | North Foreland |
ENDS
Full results from the event at The Oxfordshire can be found at: http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi11/event/pgagbi1140/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
Visit http://www.pga.info/ProCaptainChallenge.aspx for more information on The Lombard Challenge For further information or alternative images please contact Kelly Lewis at PGA Headquarters on 01675 470 333 or e-mail media@pga.org.uk. Visit www.PGA.info for up to date reports and scores throughout the season from The Lombard Challenge and all PGA tournaments
Notes to Editors
Lombard is part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. As one of the largest asset financiers in the UK and voted Best Leasing & Asset Finance Provider by Business Moneyfacts in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Lombard provides various forms of asset finance to businesses of varying sizes – from SMEs to large corporates. Products include Hire Purchase, Finance Lease, Operating Lease, Sale and Leaseback, Contract Hire, to Contract Purchase, as well as multi-specialist asset finance products such as marine, aviation and specific wholesale and stocking funding for distributors and dealerships.
Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2011, Lombard is headquartered in Redhill, Surrey, with an extensive network of business centres situated throughout the UK, and is an appointed representative of The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
