Ashcroft wins QLD Players Championship

BY iseekgolf.com | Queensland Mens Tour | 2008 Sunshine Tour Players Championship | Round Two | 02 Nov 2008

Jason Ashcroft

Jason Ashcroft pictured with the winner's trophy at Royal Pines

(Photo: PGA Australia)

After winning the 2008 Callaway Order of Merit, Jason Ashcroft has taken out the inaugural Professional Investment Services Players Championship at Royal Pines Resort.

In its first year, the Players’ Championship field is created by the top 30 players entered from the QLD Sunshine Tour Money List. The $25,000 event also provides a $5,000 bonus for the winner, making it one of the most lucrative fields to gain an entry into.

Round one saw blustery conditions with the Royal Pines layout holding it’s own against the quality field. Recently crowned Callaway Order of Merit winner Jason Ashcroft got off to a flyer, carding a 4 under par round of 68 to be tied for the lead with Adam Crawford. Crawford who has spent a majority of the year in the US was exited about the new event.

“With $9,500 up for grabs for the winner and a limited field, it is a really good chance for someone to build some confidence leading into the Australasian Tour events.”

Pre-tournament favourite Terry Price found the going tough in the first round, carding a 2 over par round of 74 to be in 10th position. Other players in the hunt were former Order of Merit winners Rowan Beste(70) and Stuart Bouvier (71) not to mention tour rookie Mark Boe (71).

Conditions on day two were far kinder and with so much up for grabs, the scoring was sure to be low. Matt Keegan set the early pace with a great round of 67 as well as Steven Jeffress who shot the round of the tournament, an 8 under par 64.

When Adam Crawford could only manage a final round of 71, that left Jeffress, who is sponsored by Professional Investment Services, to jump into outright second place. The tournament though was Jason Ashcroft’s who, with only three bogeys in 36 holes, followed up his opening round 68 with a 5 under par 67, to be 9 under par for the tournament, and winner by three shots.

When asked about where the $9,500 winners cheque would be going, Ashcroft mentioned “I am off to both Australasian and Asian Tour Schools in the coming months so it will definitely go along way to pay for that but my son Cameron has been bugging me for an XBOX 360 for months now so he might be getting an early Christmas present.”

Many professionals will now make their way down to NSW for the Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship where Scott Draper will attempt to defend his first title.

Source – PGA Australia