Davis returns to final after sad loss

Stuart Davis will compete in the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship Final again - despite suffering personal tragedy last year.

The Derbyshire player’s wife died in October after being diagnosed with cancer.

But, despite his loss, Davis came back this season looking to pick up his playing career once more and continue his PGA studies with a view to expanding his career in the game.

The former European Tour professional is set to line up in this year’s Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship Final hoping his experience in the game will help him to another strong finish after coming joint 18th at Little Aston Golf Club in 2016.

The £32,000 showpiece event takes place at Coxmoor Golf club in Nottinghamshire between August 2-4.

And it will be shrouded with sadness for Davis player who now represents Nottingham’s Woolaton Park Golf Club.

“I retired from playing at the back end of 2013 after I turned 40, I was done with playing and set up a mini-tour in the Midlands - the Eagle Tour - and I was working as a consultant outside of golf,” he said.

“But then about 20 months ago my wife was diagnosed with cancer. I had to stop the consultancy work and, bizarrely it was one of the reasons I started the PGA course.

“It was something that could be flexible around the chemotherapy. But she died last October, so this winter’s been a tricky one and the season hasn’t been the best as I didn’t play for eight months.

“Now I’ve got through year two of the PGA and then I’ll see where it takes me in 12 months. It explains why I came back into golf.

“I don’t intend to be a club pro but I’m looking at coaching or maybe a director of golf route. There are lots of options and an element of flexibility that’s what I enjoy about it, but at the moment I have no idea what I’ll use it for although I have kept the mini-tour going.”

Davis admits that while Coxmoor will be close to home - it is not a course he has too much experience of.

“I don’t think I’ve played Coxmoor for about 20 years, I remember it but I suppose the best thing to say about it for me is that I can stay at home for the final,” he said.

“Everything’s different for me now after playing the European Tour, having two years out and now competing in regional golf. But I enjoyed last year’s final although it’s not often I play three days in a row, it puts different pressures on you physically, it can be difficult.

“I was leading at one point last year but then had a dreadful 27 holes. I have a chance but I’ll be going up against some good young players like Ben Hall from Rushcliffe Golf Club who was second last year.”

Other players from the Midlands due to take part at Coxmoor include: Robert Bardsley (Moor Hall Golf Club); Ryan Wallace (Walmley Golf Club); Arron Wright (Kingswinford Golf Centre); Jack Lynch (Derby Sinfin Golf Club); Matthew Jacques  (South Staffs Golf Club); Fred Jewsbury (Stratford on Avon Golf Club); Matthew Hodgkiss (Northampton Golf Club) and Daniel Whitby-Smith (Whittington Heath Golf Club).