Pinnacle Order of Merit
The top seven in the Pinnacle Order of Merit will be selected to represent Wales in the 2009 Home International Series to be played at Hillside Golf Club, England from 26 - 28 August.
A full list of conditions is available upon request.
To download a Pinnacle Order of Merit poster please click Pinnacle Order of Merit 2009.
THOMAS CHAMPION BUT WESTGATE DEFENDS MERIT TITLE
Luke Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) won the Welsh Amateur Championship at Southerndown in fine style defeating Rhys Enoch (Truro) by 3 and 2 in the final. Thomas progressed to the final with wins over Richard Evans, Richard James, Jack Bush, Jamie Howie, Tim Iveson and then Enoch in the final. Thomas collects 250 Pinnacle points which moves him into 5th place in the final standings of the 2009 Pinnacle Order of Merit and guarantees him a place in the Wales team for the Home International matches that will be played at Hillside Golf Club, England from 26 to 28 August.
Once again the Welsh Amateur Championship threw up some new faces; Gareth Blease (Burhill) reached the semi finals while an old face reappeared Tim Iveson (Builth Wells) who both collect 100 Pinnacle points each.
Ben Westgate retained his Pinnacle Order of Merit by less than 5 points from Newport’s Joe Vickery who finished the season with a series of fine performances; 2nd at the Tucker, 2nd at the Gold Cross and a quarter final place at the Welsh Amateur.
FINAL STANDINGS AFTER THE WELSH AMATEUR
|
POSITION
|
PLAYER
|
CLUB
|
POINTS
|
|
1
|
Ben Westgate
|
Trevose
|
584.17
|
|
2
|
Joe Vickery
|
Newport
|
579.5
|
|
3
|
Nigel Edwards
|
Whitchurch
|
450.2
|
|
4
|
Rhys Enoch
|
Truro
|
400
|
|
5
|
Luke Thomas
|
Vale of Glamorgan
|
344.17
|
|
6
|
Oliver Farr
|
Ludlow
|
343.95
|
|
7
|
Adam Runcie
|
Abergele
|
281.92
|
|
8
|
Richard Hooper
|
Neath
|
210
|
|
9
|
Rhys Pugh
|
Vale of Glamorgan
|
156.5
|
|
10
|
Jamie Howie
|
Royal St David’s
|
143.5
|
|
11
|
Alistair Jones
|
Radyr
|
136
|
|
12
|
Vincent Thorne
|
Haverfordwest
|
128.17
|
|
13
|
James Frazer
|
Pennard
|
126.67
|
|
14
|
Nick James
|
Wenvoe Castle
|
106
|
|
15=
|
Luke Jackson
|
Mold
|
100
|
|
15=
|
Gareth Blease
|
Burhill
|
100
|
|
15=
|
Tim Iveson
|
Builth Wells
|
100
|
|
18
|
Craig Evans
|
West Monmouthshire
|
68
|
|
19
|
Nick Lofthouse
|
Conwy
|
63
|
|
20
|
Lee Jones
|
Conwy
|
61.5
|
|
21
|
Jason Shufflebotham
|
Prestatyn
|
60
|
|
22
|
Tom Phillips
|
St Mellons
|
53
|
|
23
|
Stephen Whitty
|
St Pierre
|
52.33
|
|
24=
|
Simon Phelps
|
Whitchurch
|
38
|
|
24=
|
Gareth Phillips
|
Creigiau
|
38
|
|
24=
|
Brent O’Neill
|
Radyr
|
38
|
|
24=
|
Nathan Chilcott
|
Southerndown
|
38
|
|
24=
|
Jack Bush
|
Morlais Castle
|
38
|
|
29
|
Richard Bentham
|
St Pierre
|
35.5
|
|
30
|
Ian Flower
|
Mountain Ash
|
33
|
|
31=
|
Richard Merchant
|
Wernddu
|
30
|
|
31=
|
Mark Ellison
|
Conwy
|
30
|
|
33
|
Michael Evans
|
Clays
|
28.83
|
|
34
|
Chris Nugent
|
Fulford Heath
|
27.5
|
|
35
|
Nathan Edwards
|
Parc
|
25.67
|
|
36
|
Ben Enoch
|
Truro
|
24.5
|
|
37
|
Matthew Moseley
|
Carmarthen
|
22
|
|
38
|
Marc Lewis
|
Borth & Ynyslas
|
20
|
|
39
|
Oliver Baker
|
Cardiff
|
19
|
|
40
|
Richard Scott
|
Haverfordwest
|
18.5
|
|
41
|
Jonathon Holmes
|
Southerndown
|
16
|
|
42
|
Jonathan Bale
|
Royal Porthcawl
|
15.33
|
|
43
|
Ross McLister
|
Cardiff
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dated 3 August 2009
|
FARR WINS GOLD CROSS
Oliver Farr (Ludlow) won the St David’s Gold Cross with a four round total of 278 strokes. Farr finished one stroke ahead of Joe Vickery (Newport). Farr scored rounds of 74, 67, 67 and 70 while Vickery scored 76, 70, 67 and closed with a 66. Farr collects 150 Pinnacle points while Vickery adds 90 Pinnacle points to his total.
In 3rd place came Jason Shufflebotham (Prestatyn) after rounds of 79, 67, 69 and 69 for a four round total 283 strokes and collects 60 Pinnacle points while in 4th place was Neath’s Richard Hooper who adds 45 Pinnacle points to his total
Ben Westgate retains his position at the top of the Pinnacle Order of Merit, Joe Vickery moves into 2nd place while Oliver Farr jumps from 6th to 4th.
DOWNING WINS TUCKER
Billy Downing (Truro) from England blistered through the field at Newport to win the Tucker Trophy at the weekend. Downing’s rounds of 68, 77, 69 and 65 gave him a five stroke victory over Joe Vickery (Newport). Vickery’s 2nd place finish was courtesy of rounds of 71, 67, 72 and 74 and he collects 60 Pinnacle points.
Tom Phillips (St Mellons) collected 3rd place after a four round total of 285 strokes and adds 40 Pinnacle points to his current total. In 4th place were Nathan Edwards (Parc), James Frazer (Pennard) and Luke Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) on 288 strokes and each collects 25.67 Pinnacle points.
Ben Westgate retains his place at the top of the Pinnacle Order of Merit after finishing in a tie for 10th place at the Tucker.
The next Pinnacle Order of Merit event is the St David’s Gold Cross at Royal St David’s Golf Club on 18/19 July
AFTER THE TUCKER TROPHY
|
POSITION
|
PLAYER
|
CLUB
|
POINTS
|
|
1
|
Ben Westgate
|
Trevose
|
584.17
|
|
2
|
Nigel Edwards
|
Whitchurch
|
450.2
|
|
3
|
Joe Vickery
|
Newport
|
426.5
|
|
4
|
Rhys Enoch
|
Truro
|
250
|
|
5
|
Adam Runcie
|
Abergele
|
205.92
|
|
6
|
Oliver Farr
|
Ludlow
|
193.95
|
|
7
|
Rhys Pugh
|
Vale of Glamorgan
|
156.5
|
|
8
|
Vincent Thorne
|
Haverfordwest
|
128.17
|
|
9
|
Richard Hooper
|
Neath
|
127
|
|
10
|
James Frazer
|
Pennard
|
126.67
|
|
11
|
Nick James
|
Wenvoe Castle
|
106
|
|
12
|
Luke Jackson
|
Mold
|
100
|
|
13
|
Craig Evans
|
West Monmouthshire
|
68
|
|
14
|
Luke Thomas
|
Vale of Glamorgan
|
66.67
|
|
15
|
Jamie Howie
|
Royal St David’s
|
63
|
|
16
|
Tom Phillips
|
St Mellons
|
53
|
|
17
|
Stephen Whitty
|
St Pierre
|
52.33
|
|
18
|
Alistair Jones
|
Radyr
|
40
|
|
19
|
Richard Bentham
|
St Pierre
|
35.5
|
|
20=
|
Richard Merchant
|
Wernddu
|
30
|
|
20=
|
Mark Ellison
|
Conwy
|
30
|
|
22
|
Michael Evans
|
Clays
|
28.83
|
|
23
|
Nathan Edwards
|
Parc
|
25.67
|
|
24
|
Ben Enoch
|
Truro
|
24.5
|
|
25
|
Lee Jones
|
Conwy
|
23.5
|
|
26
|
Matthew Moseley
|
Carmarthen
|
22
|
|
27
|
Marc Lewis
|
Borth & Ynyslas
|
20
|
|
28
|
Oliver Baker
|
Cardiff
|
19
|
|
29
|
Richard Scott
|
Haverfordwest
|
18.5
|
|
30
|
Jonathon Holmes
|
Southerndown
|
16
|
|
31
|
Jonathan Bale
|
Royal Porthcawl
|
15.33
|
|
32
|
Ian Flower
|
Mountain Ash
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dated 13 July 2009
|
NO SUCCESS AT BERKSHIRE
None of the Welsh players competing at the Berkshire made the cut of 144. Ben Westgate came closest after rounds of 71 and 74, Oliver Farr scored 74 and 76 while Carwyn Hammond scored 71 and 82.
Ben Westgate retains his place at the top of the Pinnacle Order of Merit.
EDWARDS REACHES LAST 32 OF AMATEUR
Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) reached the last 32 of the Amateur Championship at Formby and West Lancashire. Edwards who finished as 2nd qualifier for the match play stages defeated Spain’s Pedro Oriol in round 1 and then went down on the 2nd extra hole in his last 32 encounter with Ryan Dreyer of South Africa. Edwards collects 90 Pinnacle points for reaching the last 32.
In total 5 Welsh players made the match play stages out of the starting field of 288; Edwards, Rhys Enoch (Truro), Richard Hooper (Neath), Adam Runcie (Abergele) and Newport’s Joe Vickery. Enoch, Hooper, Runcie and Vickery all collect 50 Pinnacle points for reaching the last 64 stage.
Ben Westgate retains his place at the top of the Pinnacle Order of Merit.
ENOCH 3RD AT ST ANDREWS LINKS & PUGH WINS ABERCONWY
Rhys Enoch (Truro) finished 3rd at the St Andrews Links Trophy, his first tournament back after returning from college in the US. Enoch scored rounds of 71, 71, 71 and 74 to finish two strokes behind winner Alan Dunbar from Ireland. Enoch collects 200 Pinnacle points and moves into 4th place on the Order of Merit. It was a good weekend for Wales at the Links with Nigel Edwards finishing in a tie for 8th and James Frazer tying for 11th spot collecting 100 and 88 Pinnacle points each respectively. Eight Welsh players in total made the cut at the Links; Ben Westgate (T20), Oliver Farr (T25), Adam Runcie & Joe Vickery (T 29) and Jamie Howie (T39).
At the Aberconwy Trophy, Rhys Pugh (Vale of Glamorgan) scored rounds of 76, 73, 71 and 70 to win by 5 strokes and collect 100 Pinnacle points taking him to 6th in the table. Richard Hooper (Neath) finished in 2nd place and collects 60 Pinnacle points and Welsh Youth Champion, Alistair Jones (Radyr) claimed 3rd place.
Ben Westgate retains his place at the top of the Pinnacle Order of Merit.
WESTGATE 8TH AT SCOTTISH
Ben Westgate (Trevose) bounced back from his missed cut at the Welsh Open Stroke Play by tying for 8th at the Scottish Open Stroke at Murcar. Westgate scored rounds of 71, 74, 70 and 71 for a four round total 286, 2 over par some 18 strokes behind the runaway winner England’s Tommy Fleetwood. Westgate collects 60.67 Pinnacle points and extends his lead at the top of the Pinnacle list to over 200 points.
Richard Merchant (Wernddu) was the only other Welshman to make the journey to Aberdeen and finished in a tie for 32nd and collects 30 Pinnacle, his first points of the season.
EDWARDS & FARR 5TH AT WELSH
Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) and Oliver Farr (Ludlow) were the top Welsh players at the Welsh Open Stroke Play tying for 5th place. Both players tied on 3 under par, 9 strokes behind the winner Andreas Harte from Denmark. Edwards and Farr both collect 39.2 Pinnacle points each.
Adam Runcie (Abergele) tied for 14th place after rounds of 70, 77, 72 and 71 and collects 17.25 Pinnacle points.
Ben Westgate (Trevose) remains in 1st place on the Pinnacle Order of Merit despite missing the cut at Ashburnham.
VICKERY 3RD AT BRABAZON
Joe Vickery (Newport) put in an excellent performance at the English Open Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy, finishing in 3rd place. Vickery scored rounds of 72, 74 and 68 for a three round total of 214, 6 strokes behind winner, Niall Kearney (Ireland). Vickery collects 200 Pinnacle points for his 3rd place and moves into 2nd place on the Order of Merit.
Oliver Farr (Ludlow) finished in a tie for 20th after rounds of 71, 74 and 74 and collects 60 Pinnacle points to move into 6th place on the Pinnacle list. Adam Runcie (Abergele) was Wales’ only other player making the cut and finished in a tie for 37th after rounds of 72, 77 and 75. Runcie collects 50 Pinnacle points.
The Brabazon Trophy was reduced to three rounds after torrential rain flooded the Moortown course on day one of the Championship.
JACKSON WINS CLWYD OPEN
Luke Jackson (Mold) continued the winning theme for Juniors at the Clwyd Open by winning his first Pinnacle Order of Merit event and collects 100 Pinnacle points. Jackson’s rounds of 74, 73, 72 and 71 gave him a four round total of 290, for a two stroke victory over Nick James (Wenvoe Castle) who collects 60 Pinnacle points. Joe Vickery (Newport) and Luke Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) tied for 3rd and collect 35 Pinnacle points each.
Nick James won the Egerton Vase at Wrexham with rounds of 74 and 70 while Luke Jackson won the Jubilee Trophy at Prestatyn with rounds 72 and 71.
At the Irish Open Stroke Play, Adam Runcie was the only Welsh player competing and finished in a tie for 32nd after rounds of 78, 76, 79 and 78 and collects 30 Pinnacle points for making the cut.
WESTGATE 2ND AT LYTHAM
Ben Westgate (Trevose) continued his sparkling form at the Lytham Trophy by finishing in 2nd place one stroke behind James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale). Westgate moved through the field on the final day’s play with rounds of 72 and 70 in windy conditions adding to his opening rounds of 73 and 73.
Westgate collects 250 Pinnacle points for his efforts at Lytham and retains his No 1 spot on the Pinnacle list. Westgate has now opened a commanding lead of over 200 points on 2nd placed Nigel Edwards.
The only other Welsh player to make the cut at Lytham was Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) who finished in 13th place with rounds of 72, 72, 74 and 76 and adds 83 Pinnacle points to his total.
3 WAY TIE AT TRUBSHAW
Welsh Amateur Champion Ben Westgate (Trevose) continued his winning streak when he tied for 1st place at the Trubshaw Cup with Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) and Haverfordwest’s Vincent Thorne. The three tied on 12 over par after a weekend of strong winds and high scoring. Each player collects 100 Pinnacle points for the tie.
For Thorne it was his first win in a Pinnacle Order of Merit and the win moves him into 3rd place in the points list behind Westgate and Edwards. The Loughborough University student scored rounds of 79, 73, 71 and 73.
Rhys Pugh (Vale of Glamorgan) finished in sixth place to collect 33 Pinnacle points while Welsh Internationals Craig Evans and Joe Vickery collect their first Pinnacle points of the season finishing in a tie for 7th.
Edwards was the winner of the Carmarthenshire Open with rounds of 74 and 75, while Westgate won the Tenby Golden Eagle with rounds of 69 and 71.
WESTGATE IN 3 WAY TIE FOR PUTTER
Welsh Amateur Champion Ben Westgate (Trevose) won the Duncan Putter in a 3 way tie with Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) and Sam Matton (Bowood) with a four round total of 274 strokes, 6 under par – a tournament record.
Westgate collects 100 Pinnacle Order of Merit points for the win and now heads the table after the first event. Westgate scored rounds of 71, 65, 72 and 66.
Defending Champion Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) collects 38 Pinnacle points for finishing in 5th place after rounds of 72, 70, 68 and 67 for a 3 under par total while first day leader Ben Enoch (Truro) slipped back into a tie for 8th after rounds of 65, 69, 71 and 75 and he collects 24.5 Order of Merit points.
Other promising early season performances came from Stephen Whitty (St Pierre) who tied for 10th and Southerndown’s Jonathon Holmes who finished in 14th place and collects 16 Pinnacle points.