Midlands-based tour pro Jack South shot a life-changing final round 59 to claim The Motocaddy Masters title at Leven Links as well as a £59,000 bonus from the EuroPro Tour and £60,000 from sponsors Cobra Puma Golf.
South started the day three shots back from overnight leader William Harrold and produced the most spectacular round in PGA EuroPro Tour history to break the magic 60 barrier. He began with birdies at the first and second before going out in 27 to set all eyes on the Birmingham golfer as he hit the back nine having gone on a streak of five birdies from five to nine.
The Tippity Green golfer continued to apply the pressure and made birdies at 11 and 12 to be nine under through 12 and two clear of Jack Davidson. Davidson ended up signing for a spectacular round of 60 (-10) to finish tied third overall at -13.
South’s work wasn’t finished, knowing he needed to make two further birdies for a 59, he made one at the par-4 14th, meaning he only needed one more from his remaining four holes, and he did that at the 16th.
With the experienced Paul Maddy on the bag, South steered the ball home on the 17th and 18th, plotting his ball 20ft from the hole knowing a two-putt would seal the 59 and bonus, and that was what he did.
South said: “It’s a phenomenal feeling. It’s been such a hard year, I’ve worked so hard without any reward. I left myself a 50-footer for birdie up the hill at the last. It was so slow and I left it six feet short, I asked Paul to read it for me because it’s so hard. All I know is it went in, and tha is was the best putt of my career – and the best shot of my career.”
He added: “My fiancé and I Samantha have got a little boy coming in January. I only found that out last week, so it’s just motivated me so much to get to where I want to be. Thank you to the EuroPro for giving us this opportunity week in week out. She was crying on the phone.”
“I didn’t think it was possible to win that on the EuroPro let alone in a day, the sponsor’s Cobra Puma putting up a bonus for us and the EuroPro, I can’t put it into words, it’s almost like a win on the main tour isn’t it? Onwards and upwards.”
South is part of the Cobra Puma NXT LVL Squad and with that claimed their bonus for shooting a 60 or better for £60,000. The win sees South move to 11th on the order of merit up 55 places.
As well as the £12,500 first place, South will also get an M5 GPS with Lithium battery and a PRO 3000 Laser; the runner-up Hilleard receives an M1 with Lithium battery, whilst Davidson will also take home a popular PRO 3000 Laser Rangefinder, which in total is over £2,000 worth of prizes. Motocaddy also offered a PRO 3000 Laser as part of a special skills-based challenge for the players throughout the event with the winner carding the most birdies/eagles through the three rounds. South also claimed that prize with 22 birdies.
He now sits at the top of the CPG NXTLVL order of Merit, in association with MODEST! GOLF with 1 main event to go until Tour Championships.
Joe Folker COBRA PUMA Golf Brand Experience Manager added: “We’re absolutely delighted for Jack, our NXTLVL academy is all about supporting the next generation of talent and giving them opportunities to develop. To win the event is obviously incredible given the strength of the PGA EuroProTour, but to do so with a final round 59, for his maiden win is sensational!”