WILLIAM Flitcroft thought he was going to be in for a tough day when he started his Coca Cola Bathurst Trainee Pro-Am with a double bogey.
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However, in an excellent recovery effort the Manly Golf Club trainee hit four birdies and an eagle to record a three under par round of 68.
Bathurst Golf Club trainee Dylan Thompson came close to success in his home event, finishing one stroke back in a share of second place with Ricky Kato (Manly Golf Club) and Mitch Gannon (Kogarah Golf Club).
The leading quartet were the only players to finish equal or under even par.
It was just the second time Flitcroft had visited the Bathurst course but his troubles were few and far between, his eagle on the par five second hole a highlight.
Flitcroft was given some added motivation to succeed by Bathurst junior Cameron Jackson.
“I didn’t get off to the best of starts with a double bogey on my first hole but I came home pretty strong,” he said.
“I was playing with a young local, Cameron, who was one under through about 12 holes and was beating me. I was a bit concerned but I just managed to get him at the end.
“I had a great group and we finished second overall in the teams event so we were pushing each other along the whole way.”
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Flitcroft started his tournament on the fourth hole but found himself in early trouble.
He got back to even par on the sixth hole but on the eighth he fell back in over-par territory.
From there he didn’t make an errant swing.
Flitcroft had a field day over the Bathurst club’s back nine, finding birdies on both par threes and shooting par across the remainder of the holes.
“I got lucky with an eagle on my second-last hole of the day and that got me just over the line,” Flitcroft said.
“I think the greens were unbelievable today. They were rolling really well. The superintendent has done a great job getting the course set up … and that’s what’s led to some good scoring.”
Flitcroft earned $930 for his victory while Thompson, Kato and Gannon each claimed $437 for their runner-up efforts.
Defending champion Ben Stowe and last year’s runner-up Andrew Brennan finished in a share of 13th place on three over par (74).
It was a big improvement for Thompson who went six strokes better than he did in last year’s tournament.
The Bathurst player came close to adding a third 2018 trainee title to his name on Monday after his previous successes in the Hurstville Trainee Match and Riverside Oaks Trainee Match.
Gannon currently leads the NSW Order of Merit thanks to his four victories this year.
Thompson sits 14th.
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
