Josh keeps it in the family as he aims to make mark on final

The son of Welsh professional Paul Mayo will be aiming for honours at the PGA Assistants’ Championship Final.

Josh Mayo, of Newport’s Parc Golf Club, is preparing for a second shot at the event.

He played in the event last year but missed the cut - and is hoping for an improvement this time around.

Second year Assistant Mayo will tee off in the £32,000 Birdietime-supported final which will be played at Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey between July 3-5.

And he will be coached by Paul who is passing on some of his vast experience - but only after to son Josh took a mini-break from the game.

“I like playing and I want to play more, but I took a week away to Corfu to recharge the batteries with my girlfriend, I was away from golf and everything and we switched ourselves off from the world,” said Mayo.

“The Assistants’ Final is one of my high priority tournaments so you might not think that’s the best preparation. But I’m normally better after a break.

“I’ll be having a chat with my dad Paul - who’s also my coach - he’s very well known in the area and played a bit on Tour back in the day.

“He played in the Walker Cup in the 80s, won the amateur championship  and then played with Jack Nicklaus in the US Masters in Augusta.

“My dad has more of the playing blood in him than I do, that’s where I get it from.

“Perhaps I’m not as driven as he was but I am looking forward to the final. My mum’s coming along and my girlfriend’ll might be caddying - I’ll need to test the water there. I’ll get a couple of days play in with my dad beforehand.

“Last year’s event was a proper test of golf so I imagine this’ll be similar.”

Mayo says he undertook PGA training to add more strings to his bow when it comes to golf as a career.

“I didn’t really know what to do after leaving university, but I enjoy coaching and I’d really like to get the PGA letters after my name,” he said.

“I’m managing my expectation levels at the moment. At qualifiers I always feel I have a chance though. I was chuffed to bits to get back to the final and my main aim will be to make the cut to start with.

“If I avoid any major disasters I hope I’ll be there for the third day.”

Other players from Wales playing at Farleigh include: Scott Curtis (Newport Golf Club); Sam Rebane (Guildford Golf Club); and Jason Shufflebotham (Denbigh Golf Club)