Gatton Manor played host this week to the prestigious PGA Surrey Open Championship and Pro-Am tournament.

It has been a record smashing week at Gatton Manor Hotel and Golf Club as they played host to the prestigious PGA Surrey Open Championship and PRO-AM tournaments – sponsored by Kronenbourg 1664.

The Pro-Am event saw 36 teams each comprising of 3 amateurs and a single professional battle it out in the one day event. After a day of exciting golf, the Newbury Golf Centre team emerged as the Pro-Am winners supported by their professional Nick Mitchell finishing 17 under par. They played the Stableford format with the best two scores from each hole counting towards the team total.

The excitement continued as Jamie Harris from the Neville Golf Club established an all new Pro-Am course record score of 66 finishing in 6 under par giving him a confidence boost going into the following 2 day PGA Surrey Open Championship tournament.

Another record was smashed by David Osborn from West Hill Golf Club as he extended the longest drive record by 2 yards which was set by himself the previous year on our famous 17th hole which is the longest in south east England at 645 yards.

The programme for the day also included two charity events – ‘The Champagne Challenge’ sponsored by Lanson and a ‘Silent Auction’.

‘The Champagne Challenge’ at a ‘pound a putt’ tempted participants to take a 100ft putt attempting to lag their ball as close as possible to a Jeroboam of Lanson Champagne without touching it. Mark Osborne, a Gatton Manor member proved his putting prowess by placing his ball a mere 3 inches from the bottle – winning the bottle for himself. The event helped raise £130 for the captain’s charity – Petworth Cottage Nursing Home. 

In the Clubhouse the ‘Silent Auction’ was unveiled at midday in aid of the ‘Parkinson’s UK Charity’ allowing anyone to bid for an all expenses paid 5 day golf holiday in Florida’s Daytona beach resort. The winner was finally announced as Steve Marshall who is a member at Gatton Manor with a huge bid of £1,000, all of which was donated to the Parkinson’s UK charity appeal.

Following the success of the PGA Pro-AM event on Monday, things got serious on Tuesday as the two day PGA Surrey Open Championship tournament began. 130 professionals from the south region lined up to take part, with a final cut being made at the end of Tuesdays play giving only 44 professionals the chance to compete in rounds two and three on Wednesday.

The final day was sunny with a slight breeze, conditions which suited Andy Raitt who emerged as the overall winner at 8 under par for the 54 hole tournament who commented

“I am pleased with my performance here today; it is a really beautiful course which is clearly maintained at a very high standard. I look forward to coming back to play here again and would recommend it to anyone who has not yet experienced the course here at Gatton”.

Proprietors Patrick & Belinda Kiely also commented, “The last 5 years has seen a significant investment in the golf course and facilities. The challenge of the course is reflected in the fact that only 9 professionals from a field of 130 managed to beat par during the championship. All the professionals remarked on the condition and presentation of the course. We believe that Gatton Manor is now the top golfing venue in the area.”