English golfer Matthew Webb made a memorable first appearance on Australian soil by winning the PGA National Futures Championship at Ballarat Golf Club on Friday.
The final round of play was called off due to rain as the lead group walked off the eighth hole where Webb’s four-shot overnight lead had been cut to two.
However, Webb was crowned champion off the back of his first three rounds where he shot a five-over-par 221 with rounds of 74, 71, 76.
Webb was rapt to back up his performance at the corresponding event in England and take out another PGA National Futures title. And while he did not place any great expectations on himself, his home-country victory gave him confidence.
“I’m really happy. I came here with no expectations, I was just coming out to play golf,” Webb said,
“I won our version of this. I thought if I can do that where I’m from, if I play good golf, I should be able to win this.”
The emerging golfer said it was a little disappointing he did not get to sink a winning putt but was just pleased to get the victory.
The conditions proved difficult with Webb declaring the third round of play some of the toughest conditions he’d ever played in. Webb felt the week was just as much of a mental test as it was physically and tactically given the conditions.
“Yesterday (Thursday) was one of the toughest days I’ve ever played in. Maybe it was easier for me because I’m used to this kind of weather. You’ve just got to battle through mentally, hang on and make your pars.”
Shooting five over the card would not normally suffice for Webb, but the heavy winds and wet conditions made for a challenging week and he felt, while it was not his best score going by the numbers, he played some quality golf.
“Relative to par it’s hard to judge, if I was walking off five over par on a normal day I’d say that’s not very good but with the conditions I think it was good.”
Webb will now compete in the PGA playoffs at Saunton Sands, England as he looks to qualify for a European tour event.
