OJ Pitcher paid a moving tribute to late Ocean View Golf Club colleague Brian Morris after producing his best showing on the Moongate Tour Championship.

The professional finished a good third at last week’s 18-hole event, which was hosted by Belmont Hills Golf Club for the first time.

Pitcher is thrilled to have achieved a top-three finish and dedicated his round to close friend Morris, who passed away in January after a long battle against brain cancer.

“I am humbled and grateful to be able to finish among the top three,” Pitcher told The Royal Gazette.

“My best finish on the Moongate Tour and I know Brian would be very proud of me. I definitely want to dedicate it to him and hopefully sooner rather than later when that day comes, if it comes, my first victory on the Moongate Tour will also be dedicated to him.

“Brian has done a lot for me in the golf industry and everyone knows how close we grew over the years. He is a big miss to the golf industry period. Again, I just want to shout him out and remind everybody of how much he is loved and appreciated.”

Pitcher and Morris also shared a passion for cricket.

“Brian was definitely a big fan of my cricket but even a bigger fan of my golf,” St David’s and St George’s Cup Match all-rounder Pitcher added.

“Once he got to know me and we played a lot together, he saw the potential that I had. He pushed for me in golf more than cricket but I always told him I am born in St David’s and grew up on cricket. So for me that’s always been my first passion and then it’s golf.”

Pitcher attributes his solid display to adhering to the basics and tapering his expectations.

“I haven’t played in many Moongate Tour events,” he said. “I haven’t been really playing much golf at all or be able to put much time into my game.

“So I went in relaxed with no high expectations. I knew I had to stick to the basics and just let it work for me, and it worked out for me in the end.

“Last year Chaka DeSilva, myself and Jeffrey Lindo finished in a three-way tie for first in a Bermuda Professional Golfers Association event at Five Forts Golf Club, so I know what it takes to compete among the best locally and again I’m just humbled and grateful for the result.”

Fellow professional Scott Roy shot a brilliant four-under 66 to win last Friday’s event by a convincing six shots.

It was the Turtle Hill Golf Club director of golf’s third win in this year’s championship.

“It was tough conditions so a big congratulations to Scott Roy on his four-under-par 66 to win the event,” Pitcher added. “That’s some excellent golf there to win in challenging conditions.”