Ainsworth Wins at Gtour 2013 Season Opener

Colin Ainsworth got his 2013 Gtour Race to Cyprus campaign off to an ideal start as he won the first event of the calendar year with a fine performance at De Vere Staverton Park.

The Northamptonshire venue baked in winter sunshine was once again the first stop of the Gtour season as it has been for the past three years and once again it didn’t disappoint with Ainsworth’s score of 35 points good enough to take the victory on a back-nine count back.

Going out in 15 points it wasn’t until on the inward stretch that he began to score heavily which separated him from Lee Parnham and Steven Jones who also put in superb rounds on what is always a tough but rewarding course.

Ainsworth, the 2011 Race to Cyprus champion had been struggling off the tee in the build up to the start of the 2013 season and knew his long game had to improve if he would challenge at Staverton.

“I didn’t really have a game plan,” said Ainsworth picking up his winner’s trophy, “I brought a one-iron along in my bag as I wasn’t hitting my woods at all well. I kept telling myself to keep the ball in play and I just played really steadily all the way round but I didn’t think my score would be good enough to win.”

Rob Camplisson was a further two points back in fourth place ahead of Simon Wilcox and Jal Kang who were tied on 32 points. Tim Hawkins scored 31 points for a seventh place finish with Christian Osborne a point further back. 2011 Order of Merit winner Steve Watson opened his 2013 season up with a top-ten finish in ninth place and completing that list was Gary Burdett with a creditable 29 points.

The Gtour, into its fifth year is once again delighted to be sponsored by The Cyprus Tourist Board, Aphrodite Hills Resort, Bunker Mentality, Aim-Mate, Askfore.com and for the first time GoKart was part of the team making the tour one of the most desirable on the amateur circuit with events booked up well in advance.

If the past few seasons are anything to go by the 2013 Race to Cyprus will be one of the best and closest run in the tours history.
Ainsworth going for his second tour title explained why the Gtour is so popular: “It’s constantly evolving to keep it fresh and that’s why players keep coming back. I love it, I’ve made many great friends through the tour and my advice would be to anyone who is interested is just come and give it a go, you don’t have to be a pro just a friendly outlook is all you need.”

The tour returns on Saturday 16 March at the new venue of Stock Brook Manor in Essex and with limited places still available you can register here at www.gtour.co.uk