Busy Phil Harrison will take time out from the demands of owning and running his own golf club to target success in the Senior PGA Professional Championship at Northants County (May 27-29).
And the 51-year-old, who is the director of golf and part owner of Surrey's Wildwood Country Club, will approach the £35,000 event with confidence having finished fourth on his debut last year behind champion Bill Lockie (North Gailes).
Harrison - one of three brothers who are all PGA professionals - still retains the competitive spirit and is a regular face on the European Senior Tour.
Last year he managed top five and 20 finishes in the Italian Senior Open and De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall where he played alongside former Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam.
A top 20 finish will guarantee Harrison a return to Slaley Hall and he would like nothing more than first place at Northants County which celebrates its centenary this year.
"Northants a beautiful, old-fashioned course," said Harrison, whose elder brother Stephen (Eden GC) is also in the field.
"There is a lot of shaping required off the tee, it's tight and strategically you have got to manage your game, you can't just stand there and thrash it all over the place.
"It's a course where if you play well and hit the right shots it will be reflected in your score.
"I'm hoping to play well and get in contention and certainly get exemption for the PGA Seniors at Slaley Hall."
Harrison's priorities however lie firmly with Wildwood.
"It's been great for me and we've made a lot of progress in a difficult market and we are developing the club really well and it's looking really sound.
"I really enjoy it but I think the members and directors enjoy seeing me play well too so that gives me encouragement to still compete."
Harrison is one of a number of pro's from the south making the journey to Northamptonshire including European Senior Tour regular Glenn Ralph (Camberley Heath), Hampshire duo Stephen Bassil (Four Marks) and Mark Desmond (Swanmore), Ron Commans (Wisley), Andrew Hall (Sand Martins), Chris Hebdon (Hoebridge Golf Centre), Paul Milton (Surbiton) and Stephen Rolley (Worthing).
21 May, 2009