PINNACLE ORDER OF MERIT 2007
MATTHEWS DOES THE DOUBLE
Llewellyn Matthews became the first man since 1983 to win back to back Welsh Amateur Championships. Following last season’s victory at Pyle & Kenfig, Matthews defeated Trevose’s Ben Westgate by 2/1 at Royal St David’s. Matthews also captured the Order of Merit title for the second year running after collecting 250 Pinnacle points for his victory.
Ben Westgate runner up at Royal St David’s collects 150 Pinnacle points which moves him into 5th place in the table, while Zac Gould and Luke Thomas, semi finalists both collect 100 Pinnacle points and finish in 6th and 8th places respectively on the Pinnacle Order of Merit.
FINAL PLACINGS AFTER THE WELSH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
|
POSITION
|
PLAYER
|
CLUB
|
POINTS
|
|
1
|
Llewellyn Matthews
|
Southerndown
|
1035.9
|
|
2
|
Nigel Edwards
|
Whitchurch
|
772
|
|
3
|
Jason Shufflebotham
|
Prestatyn
|
442
|
|
4
|
Craig Evans
|
West Monmouthshire
|
398
|
|
5
|
Ben Westgate
|
Trevose
|
377.75
|
|
6
|
Zachariah Gould
|
Vale of Glamorgan
|
338
|
|
7
|
Rhys Enoch
|
Truro
|
301.25
|
|
8
|
Luke Thomas
|
Vale of Glamorgan
|
243
|
|
9
|
Adam Runcie
|
Abergele
|
215
|
|
10
|
Ryan Thomas
|
Aberdare
|
158.13
|
|
11
|
Jamie Howie
|
Royal St David’s
|
142.66
|
|
12=
|
Rhys Pugh
|
Vale of Glamorgan
|
100
|
|
12=
|
James Brute
|
Old Colwyn
|
100
|
|
14
|
Oliver Farr
|
Ludlow
|
98.5
|
|
15
|
Stuart Runcie
|
Abergele
|
97.16
|
|
16
|
Richard Hooper
|
Neath
|
78.67
|
|
17
|
Greg Williams
|
Pontypridd
|
62.8
|
|
18=
|
Mark Ellison
|
Conwy (Caernarvonshire)
|
60
|
|
18=
|
Kieran Thomas
|
Hinkley
|
60
|
|
20
|
Neil Povall
|
Newport
|
53
|
|
21
|
Geraint Jones
|
Royal St David’s
|
45
|
|
22
|
Ben Enoch
|
Truro
|
44
|
|
23=
|
Tim Iveson
|
Builth Wells
|
38
|
|
23=
|
Lloyd Evans
|
Wenvoe
Castle
|
38
|
|
23=
|
Joe Soar
|
Royal St David’s
|
38
|
|
23=
|
Lee Lewis
|
Gower
|
38
|
|
27
|
Nick James
|
Wenvoe
Castle
|
33.5
|
|
28
|
Brent O’Neill
|
Rhondda
|
33.33
|
|
29=
|
Jonathon Bale
|
Royal Porthcawl
|
31.67
|
|
29=
|
Steve Whitty
|
St Pierre
|
31.67
|
|
31
|
Mark Trow
|
Llanymynech
|
31
|
|
32
|
A Bennett
|
Raglan Parc
|
30
|
|
33
|
Arron Williams
|
Prestatyn
|
29
|
|
34=
|
Ashley Griffiths
|
Wrexham
|
27.5
|
|
34=
|
Billy Mills
|
Hawkstone
Park
|
27.5
|
|
36=
|
Richard Scott
|
Haverfordwest
|
23
|
|
36=
|
Gareth Williams
|
Conwy (Caernarvonshire)
|
23
|
|
38
|
Rhys Lindquist
|
Carmarthen
|
20.5
|
|
39=
|
Lee Jones
|
Conwy (Caernarvonshire)
|
19
|
|
39=
|
Chris O’Neill
|
Radyr
|
19
|
|
41=
|
Richard Bentham
|
Celtic Manor
|
14
|
|
41=
|
Gareth Tucker
|
Newport
|
14
|
|
43
|
Joshua Green
|
Clays
|
13.5
|
|
44
|
Carwyn Hammond
|
Pontardawe
|
11.25
|
|
45=
|
Ross McLister
|
Cardiff
|
6
|
|
45=
|
Andrew Gould
|
Bargoed
|
6
|
|
47
|
Richard Merchant
|
Monmouthshire
|
4.66
|
|
48=
|
Andrew Bostock
|
Wrexham
|
4
|
|
48=
|
Jeff Evans
|
Conwy (Caernarvonshire)
|
4
|
|
48=
|
James Frazer
|
Pennard
|
4
|
|
48=
|
Adam Partington
|
Wrexham
|
4
|
|
Dated 6th August 2007
|
EVANS WINS GOLD CROSS
Craig Evans won the St David’s Gold Cross by five strokes from Jamie Howie (Royal St David’s) and Luke Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan). Evans four round total of 278 comprised rounds of 71, 70, 69 and 68 to give him the 150 Pinnacle Order of Merit points which moves him into 4th place on the Pinnacle Order of Merit. Evans was in excellent form throughout the weekend where conditions were extremely difficult due to the torrential rain.
Howie and Thomas both added 75 Pinnacle points to their totals for their share of 2nd place while Geraint Jones (Royal St David’s) collects 45 points, Adam Runcie finished the week in 5th place adding 38 points to his total.
Llewellyn Matthews (Southerndown) despite missing the cut at the Open Championship at Carnoustie collects 100 Pinnacle points for qualifying and now heads the Order of Merit by over 70 points.
GOULD WINS TUCKER
Zac Gould (vale of Glamorgan) returned to the winners circle after winning the rain affected Tucker Trophy. Gould’s 36 hole total of 137 was two strokes clear of Kieran Thomas (Hinkley) as he claimed the Silver Dragon at Whitchurch. The following day’s play was abandoned after torrential rain made the Newport course unplayable and Gould was awarded the Tucker Trophy.
Gould collects 100 Pinnacle Order of Merit points and moves into 5th place on the Pinnacle list.
Llewellyn Matthews (Southerndown) remains at the top of the Pinnacle Order of Merit and will collect points for qualifying for the Open Championship.
SHUFFLEBOTHAM REACHES SEMIS AT AMATEUR
Jason Shufflebotham (Prestatyn) produced some inspired golf to reach the semi finals of the Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes last week. After rounds of 70 and 69 in qualifying Shufflebotham progressed to the semi finals beating a host of quality players en route but eventually fell to Drew Weaver (USA) 2/1. Shufflebotham collects 210 Pinnacle Order of Merit points which moves him into 3rd place on the table.
Rhys Enoch
(Truro) also made the cut and progressed to the last 32 collecting 90 Pinnacle points. Craig Evans (West Mon), Adam Runcie (Abergele) and Luke Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) all qualified but failed to progress to the last 32 and all collect 50 Pinnacle points each.
At the Berkshire Trophy, Ben Westgate (Perranporth) produced rounds of 71, 72, 68 and 68 to finish in 2nd place and gain 120 Pinnacle points to move him into 6th place on the Pinnacle Order of Merit.
The next Pinnacle Order of Merit event is the WI Tucker Trophy at Whitchurch and Newport on 14/15 July.
MATTHEWS GREAT WIN AT ST ANDREWS
Llewellyn Matthews (Southerndown) won the St Andrews Links Trophy over the weekend with a tournament record of 15 under par. Matthews rounds of 68, 67, 71 and 67 saw him finish three clear of his nearest challenger Scott Arnold of Australia. Matthews finished his round in true style holing an eight feet birdie putt to clinch the title and gain himself 350 Pinnacle Order of Merit points and moves him to the top of the table ahead of Nigel Edwards who finished in 5th place at the Links Trophy and gained 135 Pinnacle points.
Zac Gould (Vale of Glamorgan) was Wales’ other player to make the cut and finished in a tie for 33rd and gains 50 Pinnacle points.
At the Aberconwy Trophy, Jason Shufflebotham (Prestatyn) raced away from the field with a 9 stroke victory over Mark Ellison (Conwy).
The next Pinnacle Order of Merit event is the Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes from 18 – 23 June.
EDWARDS INCREASES LEAD
Nigel Edwards increased his lead at the top of the Pinnacle Order of Merit after finishing in third place at the Welsh Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship at MachynysPeninsula. Edwards collects 80 Pinnacle points and increases his lead at the top of the Order of Merit to over 200 points.
Oliver Farr from Ludlow claimed 9th spot while Ryan Thomas (Aberdare) and Llewellyn Matthews (Southerndown) tied for 10th. The best Junior was Ben Enoch from Truro who adds 16 Pinnacle points to his current tally.
The next Pinnacle Order of Merit event is the St Andrews Links Trophy on the Old and Jubilee courses from 8 – 10 June.
ENOCH 9th AT BRABAZON
Rhys Enoch (Truro) finished in a tie for 9th at the Brabazon Trophy at the Forest of Arden. Enoch’s first three rounds of 71, 72 and 69 put him within touching distance of the leaders but a final round of 76 left his just shy of the medal positions. Enoch’s effort gains him 97.5 Pinnacle Order of Merit points.
The other Welsh players to make the cut at the Forest of Arden were Nigel Edwards (T22), and Llewellyn Matthews and Ben Westgate who tied 33rd. Edwards gains 58 Pinnacle points to retain his position at No1 while Matthews and Westgate both add 50 points to their current totals.
The next Pinnacle Order of Merit event is the Welsh Open Stroke Play at the Machynys Peninsula Golf Club just outside Llanelli (25 - 27 May).
PUGH WINS CLWYD OPEN
Performance of the year to date came from Rhys Pugh (Vale of Glamorgan) at the Clwyd Open. Leading after day one with two rounds of 71, Pugh added rounds of 78 and 77 for a total of 297 strokes to finish one stroke clear of defending champion Stuart Runcie. Pugh becomes the youngest winner of an Order of Merit event at age 13 and collects 100 Pinnacle Order of Merit points for his efforts. Stuart Runcie collects 60 Pinnacle points while James Brute (Old Colwyn) gets 40 points for finishing in 3rd place.
At the Irish Open Stroke Play at Royal Dublin, Zac Gould (Vale of Glamorgan) was Wales’ best finisher tying for 12th place and adds 50 points to his Pinnacle Order of Merit total. Wales’ other players to make the cut were Rhys Enoch (T18th) who collects 39.75 points, Nigel Edwards (T28th) and Adam Runcie (T36th) who both add 30 points to their Pinnacle points.
Nigel Edwards retains the No 1 spot at the top of the Pinnacle list with Llewellyn Matthews in 2nd place..
The next Pinnacle Order of Merit event is the English Open Stroke Play for the Brabazon Trophy at the Forest of Arden (18 – 20 May).
EDWARDS 2ND AT LYTHAM
Nigel Edwards moved back to the top of the Pinnacle Order of Merit after finishing in a tie for 2nd at the Lytham Trophy over the weekend. Edwards finished tied with Ireland’s Rory McIlroy on 2 under par three strokes behind the winner Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman.
After rounds of 69, 71, 71 and 71 Edwards collects 225 Pinnacle Order of Merit points and now leads the table by over 100 points.
Southerndown’s Llewellyn Matthews was the only other Welshman to make the cut at Lytham and scored rounds of 71, 73, 72 & 76 to finish in a tie for 13th place and collects 80 Pinnacle Order of Merit points.
The next Pinnacle Order of Merit events are the Irish Open Stroke Play at Royal Dublin (11 – 13 May) and the Clwyd Open that will be played at the Wrexham and Prestatyn Golf Clubs on 12/13th May.
MATTHEWS BY 1 AT TRUBSHAW
Llewellyn Matthews, the current Welsh Amateur Champion and defending Order of Champion claimed a one stroke victory over Ireland Dara Lernihan and Prestatyn’s Jason Shufflebotham at the Trubshaw Cup
Matthews collects 150 Pinnacle Order of Merit points and heads the table from Nigel Edwards, Craig Evans moves down to 3rd while Shufflebotham collects 75 points and moves into 4th place on the list.
The winner of the Carmartheshire Open at Ashburnham was Perranporth’s Ben Westgate with scores of 72 and 70 while Richard Hooper (Neath) won the Tenby Golden Eagle with a 139 total (69 & 70) .
THIRD PUTTER FOR EDWARDS
Whitchurch’s Nigel Edwards won the Duncan Putter for the third time with a one stroke victory over third round leader Craig Evans.
Edwards collects 150 Pinnacle Order of Merit points and heads the table after the first event. In benign conditions on Saturday Edwards shot rounds of 68 and 69 to lead with local favourite Llewellyn Matthews by one from Dale Marmion, Chris Cousins and Adam Norman. Craig Evans lit up the tournament with a third round 64 to take the lead by four strokes but stumbled in the final round to a 75 that gives him 90 Pinnacle Order of Merit points.
Greg Williams of Pontypridd showed a welcome turn in form to tie for 5th place alongside Welsh Amateur Champion Llewellyn Matthews and Aberdare’s Ryan Thomas who all collect important Pinnacle Order of Merit points in the chase for International selection.