A talented group of young golfers led by defending champion Guy Woodman will battle it out at Batchworth Park to win a place in the Crown Golf English PGA Assistants' Championship on Tuesday, May 26.
Competition for places is tight with just six spots up for grabs but East Berkshire's Woodman will warm up for the qualifier in style by playing a practice round with Luke Donald at the BMW PGA Championship where they are both appearing this week.
More than 40 young pros hoping to go on and become fully-qualified PGA professionals will put their considerable playing skills to the test at the Dave Thomas designed Hertforshire course including Dummer's Ben Cummings who lost to Woodman in a play-off last year for the inaugural title.
Other entrants bidding for a share of the £2,000 prize fund include host assistant Jack Bircham, Ceri Menai-Davis (The Shire London), Thomas Markey (North Middlesex), Frederick De Saram (Pinner Hill), Andrew Dellar (Stockwood Park), Dan Lacey (Nazeing) and Ian Taylor (East Herts).
Batchworth is the first of five regional qualifiers with the event having a total prize fund of £16,000. The 30 qualifiers will go on to compete for a £6,000 prize fund at Crown Golf's Hampton Court Palace in September.
Stephen Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Crown Golf, said: "Crown Golf is delighted to continue to support this event in 2009, as helping the grass roots of the pro game is all part of our commitment to help golf to grow in the UK.
"As a passionate golfer myself, and indeed with approximately 80 assistant pros working at our many golf clubs across the UK, I see the tremendous benefits that a PGA assistant can bring to a club on a daily basis.
"The Championship is our way of saying thank you to all assistant pros both at Crown Golf clubs and at golf clubs across the UK - we look forward to a second exciting tournament, and to welcoming the regional qualifiers to Hampton Court later this year."
22 May, 2009