Barnehurst’s Jordan Godwin beat Robert Rock Academy’s James Ford 2&1 to claim the Keith MacDonald PGA South Match Play in a thrilling final held at Walton Heath’s New course.
Playing in near perfect conditions and out in three under par, Godwin was a comfortable two up at the turn, but that turned into a very uncomfortable two down on the 14th tee after Ford’s birdie barrage through the 11th, 12th and 13th.
But Ford’s magnificent charge ended abruptly with a bogey at the 14th to lose the hole to a par, and Godwin’s birdie on the 15th then got the contest back to all square with three holes left.
Godwin birdied the 607-yard, par-five 16th to go one up, and then closed out the match on the 17th to be crowned the new Keith MacDonald PGA South Match Play champion. Along with the trophy, Godwin not only took home the winner’s cheque for £1,515, but also collected a vital 100 points in the race for the 2019 Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit. The win also cemented his place in the top three, which guarantees him a place at the PGA Play Offs in Turkey in November.