RICE COOKS UP A STORM AT EAST SUSSEX

Irishman Tim Rice carded a final round 66 to clinch the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour’s FORE Business Championship held at East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa.

Rice, from Limerick Golf Club, started the final day five shots behind leader Matt Cort, and was still four shots behind him at the turn, despite an outward 34.

However, four birdies on the back nine, including a superb 12-foot putt from the fringe on the last, gave Rice the clubhouse lead on 11-under par. Cort’s back nine was a completely different story, with three bogeys over his final four holes dropping the 2016 Order of Merit Winner back to eight under par and tied for fourth.

Rice, reflecting on his first EuroPro Tour title of the season, said: “I’m surprised that I won – I really didn’t expect it and it will take a little while to settle in. It’s a real bonus.”

He added: “It’s always easier coming from behind, you’re in a position where you’re allowed to just go for it and take the risks that the guys out in front can’t necessarily make. It wasn’t until the 15th that I started to think that I could win, I holed a birdie putt and realised that if I could hold on I would be in with a great chance. I could see I was level with Matt at the time, and heading down the 18thI just went for it with my approach shot, I wouldn’t normally have gone at the flag, but that was the difference between me winning and not today.”

The 13th event of the season proved to be one for the underdogs, with four of the top five all starting outside the top 60 list in the Race To Desert Springs. Chris Gane moved into fifth place in the order of merit when taking third at East Sussex, while order of merit leader Dave Coupland extend the gap at the top with a 10thplace finish with just two regular events left in the season.

Highlights of the FORE Business Championship will air on Sky Sports Golf on August 28.