Cruise control – Keogh completes wire-to-wire triumph at Bowood

Lincolnshire golf pro Adam Keogh stoked up his love for the PGA Course at Bowood by completing a wire-to-wire victory in the English PGA Championship.

Keogh, the lead PGA coach and academy manager at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, finished runner up in the tournament when it was held at the Wiltshire venue in 2019.

He signed off on that occasion with a seven under par round of 65 but eclipsed that on his return when the tournament was back on the PGA’s schedule following a year’s absence due to Covid.

An opening course record-equalling round of nine under par that featured a hole-in-one gave him a seven shot cushion that proved unassailable in the chase for the £5,000 first prize.

Inevitably Keogh’s following two negotiations of the Dave Thomas-designed course were less explosive and course management was key, especially in the final round which he began with an eight-shot advantage.

And once he overcame an early wobble of a bogey at the first – his second and last of the whole tournament – his pursuers were left to scrabble for the runner’s up berth.

In the event, that was occupied by James Ruth of China Fleet Golf Club, Cornwall, who finished seven shots behind Keogh after posting a four under par round of 68.

Keogh, meanwhile, cushioned by his substantial advantage and with no need to engage top gear, was effectively in cruise control en route to posting a three-round total of 15-under.

As a result, his two under par round of 70 was, figuratively speaking, his worst of the tournament but it was exactly what was needed.

“The plan was to play my own game,” he explained. “I knew if I got it under par for the day I should be OK and that was ultimately my aim.

“I’ve had two bogeys this week and both have been three putts. The second came on the first when I was a little too aggressive.

“That wasn’t the game plan but it didn’t create any doubts and I bounced back from that.

“You just have to hit good shots and I hit a really good one into the second hole but unfortunately missed that putt.

“I did get a little tentative as the round continued but the good work was done on the first two days.”

Especially on day one. The nine-under was his best ever in a tournament and, coming on the back of his bogey-free seven under on his previous visit, suggests he would like to relocate the course to Lincolnshire.

“It’s my second visit here and both times have been stunning,” he confirmed. “Two years ago I was lucky enough to finish second and have gone one better this year – I love it.”