GARY WOLSTENHOLME WINS HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT.

Gary Wolstenholme is a legend in the amateur game having won 11 major titles worldwide including the Amateur Championship twice in 1991 and 2003.He has lifted majors in China,United Arab Emirates and in South Africa.Gary has been capped for England 218 times and has played on 6 Walker Cup teams.He was part of the GB&I team that won the World Championship in Chile in 1998 with Paddy Gribben,Luke Donald and Lorne Kelly.

He surprised everyone when he turned Professional in 2008 at the ripe old age of 48 in anticipation of joining the Seniors tour in August this year when he turns 50.Now he has other options,after using all his experience to win THE STOKE BY NAYLAND CHAMPIONSHIP on the Europro tour against guys less than half his age.He produced fantastic scores of 69,63,69 for a 15 under par total.The £10,000 first prize lifts Wolstenholme into 3rd place in the order of merit.(The top 5 gain promotion onto the Challenge tour next year.)

Wolstenholme was trailing the leader,Derry man Brendan Mc Carroll,by 2 shots going into the final round.They were level at the turn as Wolstenholme was one under,while Mc Carroll was one over.They stayed that way until Wolstenholme used all his experience to birdie the 14th and 15th to move two clear.In the end he emerged a 4 stroke winner as Mc Carroll lost shots at the final two holes.

Mc Carroll finished on 11 under par and shared second place with James Busby.They take home £3,750 each which leaves Mc Carroll the top Irishman on the order of merit in 14th place.

It was another good tournament for Michael Collins.He finished with a share of 16th on 4 under par.Paul o Hanlon was 23rd on 2 under par while Michael Lavelle fell back to 29th with a final round of 74 leaving him only 1 under par.

Brian Mc Elhinney was 38th on +1,while Neil o Briain finished level par in 33rd and Jonathon Mallon was 44th on +3.

THE STOKE BY NAYLAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

WINNER GARY WOLSTENHOLME 69,63,69 -15. £10,000.

2ND BRENDAN MC CARROLL 67,63,75 -11. £3,750.
JAMES BUSBY 67,69,69 -11. £3,750.

OTHER IRISH SCORES.

16TH MICHAEL COLLINS 68,72,72 -4 £458.

23RD PAUL O HANLON 73,69,72 -2 £345.

29TH MICHAEL LAVELLE 71,70,74 -1 £298.

33RD NEIL O BRIAIN 72,71,73 PAR £275.

38TH BRIAN MC ELHINNEY 73,72,72 +1 £250.

44TH JONATHON MALLON 73,72,74 +3 £222.

MISSED CUT +1.

MARK STAUNTON 72,78 +6.

ROSS OLIVER 75,75 +6.

NOEL FOX 79,72 +7.