Reed holds nerve to win at Galgorm Castle

It was Reed’s second career 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour title after victory at Fota Island last year.

Reed (Bristol & Clifton Golf Club) began the final day one shot behind the lead after carding first and second rounds of 68 and 66 respectively.

He kicked off his final round with a birdie three at the first and gained another shot at the fourth. A third birdie came at the 10th but the Bristol golfer stuttered with a bogey at 17.

Overnight leader Scott Fallon (Lightning Packaging Supplies Ltd) started well with a par at the first and a birdie three at the second. But bogeys at five and 12 allowed those around him the opportunity to leapfrog the Londoner to top spot on the leaderboard and he finished tied eighth on -7 after signing for a Final Round score of 76.

James Hepworth (Ilkley Golf Club) was third at the start of the day and birdies at two, three and four set him up for a strong finish. He stuttered with a bogey five at the sixth but recovered with a birdie at the ninth. However, the 2010 Galgorm Castle winner slipped again with a bogey at 10 and fell further behind the leaders with a six on the par-four 11th. He concluded his round on par 72 to finish tied sixth on eight under par.

Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) carded 67 to finish tied second with George Woolgar on -11. The Scotsman carded seven birdies and two bogeys on Friday to record the best Final Round of the top-ten finishers after a strong finish with shots gained at 17 and 18.

Woolgar (Capitalservices/F Ball) also finished his round strongly with three birdies on the last four holes allowing him to sign for a 69.

It meant Reed needed to par the 18th to avoid sending the tournament to a play off and despite feeling the pressure in front of a strong Galgorm Castle crowd the Englishman managed to sink a short putt for victory.

“I was a bit of a nervous wreck on the last two holes,” he admitted. “But the first 16 holes were really good for me, it was probably the best I’ve hit the ball this year.

“I made a point of not looking at the leaderboards but I started asking people at the 16th hole and that’s when I started to become nervous and looking back I probably shouldn’t have asked to be honest!

“One I had knocked my ball to within two and a half feet I felt I would be able to get it in, though I still nearly missed it!

“I am incredibly happy to win at Galgorm Castle. It’s a great venue and always feels like a big event for us. There aren’t many multiple winners on the EuroPro Tour so I am very happy to be a two-time winner.”