A Northamptonshire golf pro is preparing to dust down his clubs as he prepares for his first taste of competitive golf in two decades!
Delapre Park professional John Cuddihy will make his comeback in this month's £35,000 Senior PGA Professional Championship at neighbouring Northants County.
The Scottish-born pro, who has been at Delapre Park for 25 years, revealed he has decided to come out of hibernation having focused his attention on teaching after seeing his playing ambitions unhinged after a successful amateur career.
"I've not played in anything for 20-odd years because after a reasonable amateur career turning professional didn't go so well," said Cuddihy, who turned 50 last year making him eligible to make his debut in the event.
"I played for Scotland as an amateur and when I turned pro I tried to get on the tour and that didn't happen. I fell out with the game then and stuck to teaching. I don't do casual golf and pro-ams aren't really my thing.
"But when the entry form arrived for this event this year and the fact it's just on the doorstep, I thought I'd give it a go.
"I'm just dipping my toe in and seeing what happens as I've got absolutely no expectations at all. I'm just going to turn up and see how it goes. I'm doing a little bit of work to sharpen up the game but I won't know how that measures up until the tournament starts."
The three-day 54-hole tournament, which is being staged for the 15th time, tees off on Wednesday May 27 with a field of 144.
The top 20 finishers at Northants County qualify for the chance to rub shoulders with some of golf's elite elder statesmen including Ryder Cup winning captains Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam at next month's De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship at Northumberland's Slaley Hall resort.
Hoping for another crack at them is North Warwickshire's Andy Bownes, who finished fifth in this event 12 months ago.
"I have a European Senior Tour category but still for someone like me to get the chance to mix in that company is special," said the 53-year-old.
"Northants is a tough course so the first aim is to make the cut but finishing in the top 20 and being able to compete at Slaley Hall has to be the priority.
"If you're in with a shout of winning going into the final day, like I was last year, that would be good but you can't put that sort of pressure on yourself."
Other Midland pros aiming for success at Northants County include host pro Tim Rouse, Farthingstone's Mike Gallagher, who was joint-runner up last year, Shaun Ball (South Staffs), Iain Grant (Ardencote Manor), Graham Hawkings (The Worcestershire), Phil and Paul Hinton (both Chesterton Valley) and reigning PGA Super 60s champion John Lower (Wollaton Park).
19 May, 2009