Steve Staunton has won this year’s first Celeb-Am at the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship. Staunton put in a stunning performance on the Cromwell Course to clinch victory with a score of +1 (35). He fought off competition from the likes of ex-Manchester United star Clayton Blackmore and former Strictly judge Len Goodman.
Staunton was joined on the course by a whole host of famous faces including former England rugby captain, Mike Tindall MBE, athletics star Kriss Akabusi MBE and Harry Potter stars, James and Oliver Phelps.
At the halfway stage, Liverpool and Republic of Ireland legend, Staunton, had the lead after posting +1, including a remarkable eagle on the ninth, to put him ahead of the pack. Former Strictly Come Dancing star Goodman fought back well and found himself within one stroke of the former footballer, but Staunton held on to hold the lead at the end of the second group’s play.
Two-time Major winner and event host, Tony Jacklin CBE, commended Staunton for his performance. He said: “Staunton played extremely well out there today and was a worthy winner of the week’s first Celeb-Am. It is always a special way to start the week and we had some great names out there today. We are all looking forward to the main event getting underway tomorrow and can’t wait to see another day of action.”
There was also a team aspect of today’s proceedings, with The Social Golfer topping the team leaderboard with a score of -12 (84) seeing Ian Halliwell, Roger Hurcombe and Steven Skitt take the win, alongside their celebrity, darts legend Colin Lloyd.
Ahead of tomorrow’s Professional Championship, a selection of professionals also took to the course in today’s event and last year’s BP3 champion, Richard O’Hanlon, finished the day as the leading pro with a score of -1.
Attention will now turn to tomorrow’s Championship which will see some of the biggest names from the world of golf tackle the course. These include: 1991 Masters champion, Ian Woosnam OBE, rising star of the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour, Charley Hull, European Tour rookie, Aaron Rai, Open Championship star Sam Locke and the event’s first ever Chilean player, Matias Calderon.
A whole host of sponsors are supporting this year’s event. Once again, the event’s title sponsor is nationwide supermarket Farmfoods, with leading brand agency Champions (UK) plc returning as event organisers. Other event partners include Nailcote Hall, Volvik, The Eagle Tour, Sky Sports Golf, Liberty Industries Group, Total Motion, Inspirational Magazine, Finest Catch, Sub70 Golf, Champions Celebrity Talent Agency, VPAR, Thomas Lyte, Champions After Dinner Speakers and Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.