Taylor nets Classic win

6:36am Friday 4th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

It was a memorable day for Essex players in the East Herts/Weston Homes Classic at scenic Hamels Park.

Chelmsford's Brett Taylor, 33, built on his opening round of 65 to win his first PGA East Region Order of Merit event.

He finished with a seven under par total of 135, which earned him a prize of £1,700.

Mark Baker, of Colchester, was one of four runners-up, a single shot behind.

His highlight was a hole-in-one with a six-iron at the 187-yard seventh hole, which ignited his challenge.

Jason Levemore, of Clacton, another joint runner-up, set a new course record with his second round of 64, with seven birdies and no dropped shots.

It became a record because the course has been lengthened.

The other joint runners-up were Ian Ellis, of Weston Park, last year's PGA East Region Order of Merit winner, and James Watts, an invited amateur from Hamels Park.

All runners-up, apart from the amateur, won £833.

Taylor said: "I have been fourth and second in the two previous Order of Merit events this season but my second round was a bit up and down.

"After I hit my second shot into a ditch and dropped a shot at the par five 14th, one of the easiest holes, I was back in the pack.

"But I played some good shots on the last two holes.

"My second with a seven-iron at the 493-yard par five 17th put me on the fringe of the green only 15 feet from the pin.

"I chose to putt rather than chip and make sure of the birdie to put me ahead."

Taylor's safe par at the final 192-yard 18th was all he needed unless Ellis produced a birdie.

The Norfolk player found the greenside bunker and had to settle for par.

Taylor's target is to consolidate his place on top of the Order of Merit and qualify for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the end-of-season Srixon PGA play-offs.

He said: "I would love to get back to Wentworth, where I did well last year. My ranking, as a result, meant I did not have to play in the regional stage of this year's Open Championship."

The second day at Hamels Park was overcast with drizzle in the afternoon. There was virtually no wind so scores were generally lower than on the breezy first day.