Kent swept to an impressive six-shot victory in the PGA of England & Wales Inter-County Championship held at The Belfry from October 18-19.
Peter Appleyard, Scott Stevens and Thomas Muchmore were the dominant force from start to finish in the £10,000 event, leading on day one with a -4 team score, before running out clear winners on -9.
Ridge professional Stevens admitted: “It’s a great event and we are proud to have won it. We are glad to be taking the trophy back to our region. We did the ground work on the first day. Conditions were difficult, so a four-under-par team score was pleasing.
“Even with an advantage going into day two, you know there are plenty of good players out there, so the aim was to try and shoot around par. I would have been one under if it hadn’t been for the last hole. But Tom played well once again and Peter had two great rounds.”
Appleyard, the head professional at Sittingbourne, produced the lowest round on day one, firing a 68 over the PGA National Course and going one better 24 hours later. And while the quick greens were causing many of the other pros difficulties, Appleyard revealed changing the way he gripped his putter transformed his round. He said: “I struggled to get the pace early on. After five holes I changed to left hand low on the putter and that seemed to make all the difference.”
Appleyard opened with a birdie, but it wasn’t until the ninth, when he rolled in a par saver, that his round burst into life. He said: “Putting left low is something I practise. I feel comfortable swinging that way. Glad I made the change. From the ninth, I managed to birdie four out of five holes.”
The only note of concern was for Muchmore, who walked off the 18th on Wednesday fearing he could be the first player hit with a fine – despite winning a major national event. “I forgot my suit,” he revealed. “I had to have it sent from home by UPS. Paying for delivery seemed a better option than paying a fine.”
But the team’s outfit issues didn’t end there. A memory lapse in the regional office meant the trio could not perform in team colours. So while Hertfordshire were looking good in a strip provided by Ryder Cup vice-captain Ian Poulter, Kent had to make do with their normal shirts.
Appleyard added: “I think the team strip is still in a warehouse in Kent somewhere.”