Three of last year's finalists plus a former soccer star will be among the talented pack of young golfers battling it out in Nottinghamshire this month for a place in the Crown Golf English PGA Assistants' Championship.
A field of more than 40 hopefuls from across the Midlands and beyond will tee up at Cotgrave Place Golf Club on Tuesday June 16 aiming to secure one of the six spots on offer for this year's final.
Among those looking to return to the final for the second successive year are Spaldington's Paul Bradshaw, who was tied eighth, Richard Pace (Hornsea) tied 10th and John-Paul Banbury (Moor Hall) who finished in a share of 14th.
Among those looking to reach the final for the first time are Stonebridge's former Coventry City footballer Craig Strachan, the son of ex-Celtic and Sky Blues boss Gordon Strachan, plus Lewis Baker (Forest of Arden), Martin Edge (Hesketh), Ian Jones (Inkberrow), Toby Spence (Royal Liverpool) and Luke Allen (Lindrick).
Cotgrave Place is the third of five regional qualifiers with the event having a total prize fund of £16,000. A total of 30 qualifiers will go on to compete for a £6,000 prize fund at Crown Golf's Hampton Court Palace on September 28.
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 Palace later this year."
12 June, 2009