This year’s edition of the PGAs of Europe-sanctioned Carr Golf Links Pro-Am reached an exciting conclusion in blustery conditions at Royal Portrush when the PGA of America’s John Reeves took the 2015 title.
With the top four Professionals being separated by just four points it was going to be a closely fought contest for the individual Professional title and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
First out was overnight leader, Robbie Gilmore (PGA of America) who battled the stern conditions to record a six-over par 78 (30 points) to set the clubhouse lead of 127 points (+17).
Next into the clubhouse was early Round 01 leader, John Reeves (PGA of America), who shot a great three-over par 75 (33 Points) to join Gilmore on 127 Points.
An excellent two-over par from the PGA of America’s Paul Hollenbaugh saw him join the leaders on 127 points, as did the PGA of Canada’s Bob Beauchemin after a final round 77 (31 Points).
This resulted in a four-way tie for the lead, which was settled by the best score from a Professional from the whole tournament – John Reeves took home the title after his superb level par round (36 Points) at Portmarnock in Round 01.
For the amateur prizes there were two categories with eight teams competing for the Pro-Am title and six teams competing for the Am-Am title.
Both of these categories turned out to be equally as close as the Professional Tournament with the Pro-Am Team being decided on countback on the final round’s scores.
Just pipping last year’s Pro-Am winning team from New Albany Country Club by one point on count back to the title, after securing 81 Points (-9) in their final round, was the team from Oakdale Golf and Country Club, led by the PGA of Canada’s (Ontario section) Bob Beauchemin with amateurs Jason Berns, Jason Crystal and Rick Trudel.
“Awesome – it was a great day an awesome event, with great golf courses…. we really enjoyed it,” said Beauchemin. “The courses this week well… Portmarnock was just awesome, Royal County Down was probably one of the most dramatic courses I have ever seen and you can see why the Open Championship is going to be held here [Royal Portrush]. All of them were beautiful and the weather has been great for the whole week, this is beyond what I expected, way beyond.”
In the Am-Am competition three teams from Canada and the Carr Golf Travel team were fighting for pole position and it came down to the final group that ensured a close and exciting finish.
Coming out victorious were early Round 01 leaders, Team Adidas, made up of amateurs Louis Ferraris, Dwayne Boecker, Todd Fraser and Lyndon Kappel, after their final round seven-under par (79 Points) saw them take home the title with a total of 325 Points (-37).
“The weather was unbelievable,” said Ferraris. “To come over here at the end of October with no rain and we didn’t get wind until the second last day…the guys were just excited to play Portrush obviously with the 2019 Open Championship coming here and…it was a great experience for everyone.”
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