Harrold wins opening PGA Europro event on legendary Belfry Course

William Harrold won the opening event of the PGA EuroPro Tour season, shooting a final-round 71 to finish four under par in the Matchroom Championship on the Brabazon Course at The Belfry.

The Norfolk golfer began the day four behind 36-hole leader Jack Senior (Heysham Golf Club), but the former Walker Cup man shot 76 in his final round to fall from -7 overnight to -3 at the close of play, earning him second place.

Harrold (Sheringham Golf Club) collects a winner’s cheque of £10,000 plus a brand new Motocaddy S1 PRO trolley. It is his first win on the PGA EuroPro Tour, having missed out in a play-off at The Oxfordshire last season.

“It feels great,” said Harrold. “I was ready for another play-off but I am happy to not have had to have that again. My dad was on the bag this week. He’s a good caddy and we have a good record together. He was on the bag at The Oxfordshire last year too."

Harrold completed his front nine in 36 shots after cancelling out his sixth-hole bogey with a birdie at the ninth. Coming in he bogeyed the 11th but birdied 13 and then the 17th to move to four under.

Second-place Senior double-bogeyed the first, cutting his overnight lead to one stroke. Bogeys at three, six and 13 saw him away from contention but a late flurry of three consecutive birdies at 15, 16 and 17 saw him draw level with leader Harrold, who was playing in the group ahead.

However, the Lancastrian found a bunker on 18 and double bogeyed the hole to miss out on a play-off. Gary King (Tyrrells Wood) and Paul Broadhurst shared third on two under.

Highlights of the event will be broadcast eight times on Sky Sports, premiering at 8pm on Tuesday, April 29. The next PGA EuroPro Tour event is the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters at Montrose, beginning on April 29.

Motocaddy has been selected as the ‘Official Electric Trolley’ of the PGA EuroPro Tour for a ninth consecutive year. The PGA Europro Tour is the leading developmental tour in Europe with the top five players from the Order of Merit receiving exemptions onto the 2015 European Challenge Tour.