Kennedy turns on the style to win at Maylands - 19/03/2007

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LLOYD Kennedy completed a fantastic performance to comfortably win the ninth event of the PGA EuroPro Tour season.

Kennedy, 22, a member of the Chelmsford Golf Club, had a narrow lead at the start of the final day at the Maylands Golf and Country Club, near Romford, Essex, but extended his advantage to win by five shots.

"I was very nervous when I teed off as I hadn't been in contention to win this year," said Kennedy (pictured right).

"But once I was out there and got off to a good start I then felt comfortable. I've worked really hard over the last few months and it's now paying off.

"I knew if I put myself into contention then I wouldn't be scared to win and I did the hard bit over the first two days.

"It has been a difficult year for me but it has all come together today. This will be a kick-start for me and I'm looking to finish in the top five on the Order of Merit."

This is Kennedy's first full year on the tour and he showed his promise by winning a pre-qualifying event at Stoke-by-Nayland, near Colchester, Essex at the start of April before performing well at the Final Qualifying School.

Before this week he had only made the cut once in four main events and had been in 178th place in the Order of Merit.

But rounds of 66, 65 and 64 saw him finish on 18-under and the £10,000 prize money he won shoots him up to tenth in the money list.

Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) came second on 13-under, with Alan Murray (Greystones) and Paul Curry (Braintree) level in third on 12-under.

A number of players ended the tournament with fine third rounds, including Matt Morris and Robert Steele who both fired five-under totals of 66.

Morris started the day on four-under and his score had not improved after the next nine holes. However, he then hit a rich vein form as he moved up the leaderboard with his best hole being an eagle at the 471-yard par-five 13th.

He ended in tied eighth on nine-under, one shot ahead of Steele who came equal 14th to secure his third top 20 finish of the season.

This event, which was sponsored by Towergate Insurance, featured more than 160 of the top young golf professionals from Britain and Ireland.

The next tournament of the season takes place at the De Vere Oulton Hall in Leeds from Wednesday, August 8 to Friday, August 10.

Competition will be fierce as each of the players will be aiming to cement their positions in the top 50 on the Order of Merit and guarantee a spot at the end of year Tour Championships.

Date posted: August 3, 2007