Golfer Oliver Farr clinches Challenge Tour card

Farr, from Ludlow, yesterday won the PGA EuroPro Tour Championship at Prince's Golf Club in Kent.

He scored a five-under-par 67 in yesterday' s third and final round.

That victory, in the final event of the EuroPro Tour series 2013, shot him to top spot in the competition's Order of Merit.

The top five finishers in the Order of Merit each year are awarded a card for the higher-ranking European Challenge Tour – professional golf's second tier – the following season.

Farr finished the Tour Championship on 13 under par for his 54 holes over the three days.

He said: "It is brilliant to get my Challenge Tour Card.

"That only really occurred to me on the 18th.

"I was focusing on the last round.

"I came here this week to just play this tournament as it is and I did that.

"It only really came into my mind on the 18th tee, then I thought I could win the Order of Merit.

"Playing on the Challenge Tour is something to really, really look forward to.

"I have played some Challenge Tour events this year and I feel comfortable on there.

"There is a little step up but I will prepare myself and get some good practice in over the winter to get ready for next year."

The Welshman, who is based at Worcester Golf and Country Club, led for much of the back nine after shooting five birdies on the first 11 holes.

A birdie for Daniel Gavins, who came second in Kent, on the last left Farr with a short but nervy putt for victory.

But the Ludlow man calmly made the putt to collect a winner's cheque of £15,000 and a brand new Motocaddy S3 Pro.

Gavins, from De Vere Oulton Hall, finished one behind, which also confirmed his position as runner-up on the tour rankings.

George Woolgar, who was guaranteed a top-five finish before Tour Championship, came third in the EuroPro Tour Order of Merit.

Dave Coupland and Paul McKechnie also progressed to the Challenge Tour next season.