It remains all to play for at PGA National Italy after round one of the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge Final with all 10 teams separated by just five points.
In the best score counts Stableford competition, all pairings produced some excellent golf with not team scoring under 36 points.
Kedleston Park duo Ian Walley and Carl Barker (amateur) were able to take a narrow lead into the final day, finishing on 42 points. However, that outcome did not look likely on the front nine.
Walley and Barker found themselves one-over-par standing on the 10th tee, but they managed to score and incredible 25 points on the back nine, including a nett eagle on the 16th.
Reflecting on their performance, PGA Professional Walley said: “We didn’t expect to be up there, through 9 holes we thought we were pretty much out of it and hoping to scrape a bottom half finish, but to finish the way we did was fantastic.”
Speaking about their mid-round fight back, Kedleston Park Captain Barker remarked: “We turned in one over and suddenly found ourselves three under and felt like we were back in it.”
After round one at the @skycaddieuk PGA Pro-Captain Challenge Final, @ianwalley and partner Carl Barker hold a one shot lead, after a fantastic 42 points at @argentariogolf ? pic.twitter.com/YjDKa3PsVv
— The PGA (@ThePGA) October 11, 2022
Leading the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge is not an unfamiliar feeling for Whalley having won the competition three times in the last nine years.
Going into the final round, the pair look a formidable force and in fine form at Argentario Golf and Wellness Resort.
The chasing pack behind Kedleston Park is incredibly strong and will be ready pounce on any opportunities tomorrow. Four teams sit on 41 points, with another three teams on 40 points, making the leaderboard incredibly bunched and one shot could make all the different in what looks set to be a thrilling finale in Italy.
Throughout the event, each player is using the SX550 tourbook, provided by the tournament’s headline sponsor, Skycaddie. The device allows the players to see more, play faster and make better decisions on the course supplying precise measurements across the entire golf course this week.
CLICK HERE to see the full leaderboard from the 2022 SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge Final.
