FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
Chris Parkinson secured his first ever Northern Order of Merit victory on Sunday to open up a sizeable gap in the overall standings after just three events.
The Penwortham player won on his home course on countback from Isle of Man golfer Rob Noon (Douglas) to cap a brilliant start to the season for the 33-year-old. He finished third last week at Delamere Forest and second in the season opener at West Lancs and now is 27 points clear of Noon.
However it wasn’t looking good for Parkinson at one point. Having opened with a six-over-par 75, he then bogeyed his first hole in the afternoon but grabbed four birdies – and one more bogey – to close with a 67 and pip Douglas to the title. It was the first time in 36 years the Penwortham Rose Bowl has been won by a home player.
For the champion, who’s main sport was cricket until five years ago, the improvement in his game has come on the back of a “proper winter of preparation”.
“I’ve been working hard with the pro at Penwortham Darren Hopwood,” said Parkinson, who is now down to +3.4. “He’s been great and it means a lot when you can see the results so quickly.”
Strong winds, that were coming from opposite their usual direction, contributed to a tough morning for most of the field.
Click here to see the full Northern Order of Merit fixture list for 2022
Certainly Parkinson was struggling to adapt and he racked up nine bogeys after a starting birdie-birdie. Noon, Steven Bryan (Bolton Old Links) and Cameron Aspinall (Darwen) jointly led at halfway on two over.
Starting at the tenth, the Penwortham course record holder – he shot 62 (-7) last August – took full advantage of the helpful wind at the short par four 11th (his second) to claim his first birdie after lunch. A good drive left him 40 yards in and he pitched to 15 feet before sinking the putt.
At the 14th (his fifth) he got under par for his round. A huge drive at the 520-yarder meant he had just a nine iron in and he found the short stuff so two putts was enough for the four.
A critical 12-footer for par at the 17th kept him in the red for the afternoon and it got better at the first (his 10th) as he almost drove the green, with the wind giving him a much-appreciated nudge. He was able to two-putt from the fringe but did give it straight back at the short par four second, which was also playing downwind.
However he would get to two under par for his round at the par five sixth (his 15th). His drive round the rough on the right but his second “came out perfectly” and he was left with 60 feet for eagle. He got down in two and parred the last, which proved just enough.