A GROUP of four golfers at Mile End Golf Club have been celebrating international success after taking the top spot at a recent tournament in the US.

James Davies, Colin Amyes, Dave Thomas and Bob Grovestock-Thompson finished first at the annual ProAm event at the world-famous Sawgrass course in Florida.

The ProAm event follows the Players Championship by a matter of days, allowing keen golfers from across the world to follow the footsteps of some of the world’s best golfers.

Mile End Golf Club professional James led the group as they won the tournament by four shots in what proved to be an amazing experience for the quartet.

After flying out a few days before the event began, the Oswestry-based golfers were able to see exactly how it should be done first-hand as they watched the professionals including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods take part in the Players Championship.

James said: “We got to go out a few days earlier to watch the final round of the Players Championships.

“We were able to get really close to the action which was good.

“One of the lads said he really wanted the chance to be able to watch Tiger Woods play a shot, and we were so close we were almost rubbing shoulders with him at times!

“Some of us had the chance to meet Justin Thomas in the hotel while we were there, and he was great – such a friendly person.

“It was amazing to be there to witness things like McIlroy hitting an amazing tee shot on the 18th hole which is such a daunting hole.

“To then be playing days later where you’ve watched Tiger play some incredible shots, then you’re following in his footsteps days later.

“It’s impressive – the whole atmosphere at Sawgrass has that aura of something special about it from the second you drive up the driveway – the grass looks fake it’s so perfect.”

James described the taste of victory at such an iconic course as being indescribable, and hopes the group are able to do it again in the future.

“We thought we’d blown it, none of us really played at our best on the last day of the tournament,” he said.

“The last day was a struggle – we were all hitting some great shots in the previous days and we all got a buzz off each other, but the last day felt different after so many days of playing.

“We had managed to get eight or nine-under par most days between us, so we really played quite steady golf for the most part.

“To win a tournament there is so special in comparison to anywhere we’ve won before.

“It’s hard to describe.”

“You make friends out there and it’s a really cool place to visit.

“There are a lot of great golfers milling around which is great to see.

“We’re hoping to go again next year.”

“I think it’s good for our game in general – Bob has won almost every competition he’s been in since we got back home.

“It’s a good way to prepare for your season, especially on such a pristine course which really makes you up your game.”