THE Oxfordshire were happy to get their name back on the map after hosting the biggest professional event for five years.

And it is hoped the club, near Thame, will become a regular stop on the EuroPro Tour in future.

The WPT Championship was the first tournament the club had hosted since the Ladies English Open in 2008.

The EuroPro Tour, which visited Frilford Heath in June, operates as the third tier for professionals in the UK, acting as a stepping stone to the European Challenge Tour and attracted a field in excess of 150 players.

Ryan Bezuidenhout, sales and marketing manager at course owners Leaderboard Golf, was delighted with the outcome.

He said: “I think it was spot on.

“Since the last Ladies English Open we have only really held amateur events.

“Some were televised, but it was nothing of this calibre.

“Hosting a big championship takes silly money, whereas something like this is mutually beneficial.

“Our intention is to have it back for the next few years.”

He added: “I think our name is known, but getting us back to hosting respectable tournaments is good to get us back on the map.”

Chesterfield’s George Woolgar recovered from dropping four shots in his final three holes to win a play-off against William Harold, from Norfolk.

There was plenty of local interest in the field.

Frilford’s Tom Fleming bounced back from an opening round of 75 with a 68 and 69 to finish as Oxfordshire’s top player.

His four-under total was seven shots behind the winner, but gave him a share of 24th place.

One shot further back was The Oxfordshire’s own Craig Hinton, who fired a final round four-under 68 to climb up to joint 26th.

Clubmate Jordan Garnish (pictured left), an amateur, got a taste of professional tournament golf and made the cut.

His highlight was an opening round of 70, but he slipped down the leaderboard over the next two days to finish on five-over in a tie for 61st place.

In between was Oxford’s Adam Wootton.

Rounds of 73, 72 and 69 saw him finish on two-under and a share of 31st place.