The PGS narrowed the gap with the Northcliffe in the annual match for the Lord Northcliffe Challenge Cup, with a convincing win at The Belfry.
On the first day they set up a commanding overnight lead on the challenging Brabazon course, home to the Ryder Cup four times, and then confirmed victory on the equally testing PGA National.
Conditions on both courses were extremely testing with no buggies or trolleys allowed and many of the fairways water logged that had threatened the match being played.
The PGS coped better with the conditions that also included strong winds and rain showers, completing a hat trick of wins over the last three years to retain the trophy.
During 27 years of the annual match, the Northcliffe have won 14 times, the PGS now have 11 wins with 2 matches remarkably halved.
Northcliffe Captain Joe Marvell, who organised the The Belfry for the match, thanked both teams for playing in such difficult conditions and said all players were the winners in coping with the difficult conditions.
PGS Captain Tony Smith said the fixture was a very special occasion in their fixture list as it brought together all media, newspaper and television golfers from 2 of the oldest golfing societies in the country.
Champagne for Nearest the Pin on the PGA national 3rd hole was won by PGS member Mark Lomas and champagne for winning the longest drive on the 12th was taken home by Northcliffe member Dan Hall.
Next year’s match organised by the PGS will be played on the James Braid designed Thorpeness course in Suffolk and nearby Aldeburgh, both on the Suffolk coast.
The 2025 venue will be Kington, Herefordshire’s No 1 course, an “inland” links course that is the highest golf course in England. The match will be hosted by Northcliffe member Brian Viner on his home course.
The Northcliffe was formed in 1910 by Lord Northcliffe, founder of the Daily Mail newspaper, and the Press Golfing Society was formed in 1904 with members from all media including national newspapers and television including the BBC and Skysports.
