Essex’s Josh Cardy clinched his PGA in England (East) Trainees’ Championship victory in the best possible fashion with a chip-in birdie at Bishop Stortford Golf Club’s final hole.
The Little Channels Golf Centre trainee appeared to be in a spot of bother after his 8-iron approach on the closing par-4 flew to the right of the green.
But he steeled himself and conjured up the perfect 20-yard chip, which had just enough momentum to topple into the cup
Cardy, 28, said: “It sat on the edge for a second and then dropped in. It was very nice to see it drop, that’s for sure.”
The stroke of magic was enough to give him a two-shot success – and his first-ever victory as a professional.
He fired rounds of 69 and 68 for a five-under-par total of 137 with Jack Kelly (Pinner Hill) finishing as runner-up.
This is my first win as a professional. I’d love to go on and press forward from here and get some more results under my belt.
- Josh Cardy - PGA Trainee
Cardy said: “I played really well in the first round. I started on the 10th and made a couple of nice birdies early on and managed to just work my way around the rest of the round and post two-under.
“The afternoon, it was the opposite. I managed to scramble it round the front nine in one-over and then I played really nicely on the back nine. I made a couple of birdies and an eagle on the par–5, which really helped.
“I really like the golf course and played here quite a lot of times as an amateur as well. It does suit my eye definitely.
“This is my first win as a professional. I’d love to go on and press forward from here and get some more results under my belt.”
Kelly shot the low round of the day, opening up with a 67. He followed up with a 72 that left him on three-under for the tournament, two ahead of Nicholas French (Warren) and Mitchell Smith (Royal Cromer), who shared third place.
