Thetford member Giles Evans, who is now a professional, teamed up with Club Champion Owen Mills in the Thetford Winter ProAm on January 16. They started at the 14th and Giles had birdies at the 17th, 9th and 12th against one bogey to stand two under par with just the par-5 13th to play. His second shot just missed the green on the right but he chipped on – and then three-putted for a bogey and a round of 71. That meant he missed out on the professionals’ prize, which went to Alex Holmes of Great Yarmouth & Caister who had five birdies in a round of 70.
Giles and Owen finished joint third in the ProAm with 41pts, three behind the winners.
Weather conditions were excellent – chilly, but dry – and all the winners praised the state of the course in their speeches. A total of 50 pairs entered the event.
Final scores.
Professionals: 70 Alex Holmes; 71 Giles Evans; 73 Chris Soanes and Jamie Abbott.
ProAm: 44 Chris Soanes and James Nolloth (Rookery Park); 42 Caroline Grady & Clyde Camburn (Newton Green); 41 Giles Evans & Owen Mills (Thetford), Alex Holmes & Darren Ward (Great Yarmouth & Caister) and Ben Kerr & Matt Hartley (Links Newmarket).
AmAm: 42 Richard Cross & Roger Gardiner (Stoke-by-Nayland); 41 Callum Brookes & Mark Harvey; 40 Chris Briggs & Steve Nichols and Mark Jackson & Allan Crerar.
Captions: Alex Holmes holds his Professionals' winner's cheque, watched by Winter ProAm President Alan Maddy.
Thetford pair Giles Evans and Owen Mills, who were joint third in the ProAm