Goddard wins for first time as a professional - 12/08/2011

Luke Goddard has won his first PGA EuroPro Tour title of his career.

Goddard clinched victory at the Lingfield Park Championship 2011 as he finished two shots ahead of Jamie Howarth.

Scores of 68 (-3) and 66 (-5) saw him start the day on eight-under with an advantage of three shots and his final day round of 70 was enough to seal the £10,000 winner’s prize.

Luke Goddard

“It feels very good to get rid of the monkey off of my back and win my first tournament as a professional,” said Hendon-based Goddard.

“This gets me a step closer to the Challenge Tour and I’ve got a very good chance if I carry this form on.

“My putting has improved over the last few weeks. All season I’ve been hitting it solidly but not putting the scores together but in the last few weeks that has changed.

“The Challenge Tour is the main step for me now and I think I would do very well there. I’ve led on the European Tour before and it suits my game at a higher level.”

This victory catapults him up to third in the Order of Merit where a top-five finish at the end of the season would see him advance to the Challenge Tour.

It would be a quick rise for Goddard, who has represented Great Britain and Ireland in the 2009 Walker Cup, as he only turned professional in October 2009.

He started this season playing in the first stage of Qualifying School and finished second in the opening phase and 20th in final qualifying to earn his spot on the EuroPro Tour.

After failing to make the cut at his first events, he rapidly improved with top 20 finishes at Burhill, Longhirst Hall and Fota Island.

Last week at Formby Hall Goddard finished tied second but went one better this week in Surrey.

Howarth’s final day effort of 66 (-5) left him in second place, while Chris Hanson’s third place finish saw him regain his lead in the Order of Merit with Zane Scotland finishing fourth.

This is the tenth event of the season and a two-hour highlights package will be shown on Sky Sports on Wednesday, August 24.

After a week gap, the Tour will return on Wednesday, August 24 at Mottram Hall in Cheshire.