Shannon set for final debut after leaving homework behind

Keith Shannon can finally put his studies to one side and play in the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Final.

Shannon, of Newry’s Cloverhill Golf Club, has qualified for the event for the past two years.

But the 28-year-old has always put his PGA exams first and stayed at home to prepare rather than travel to the 2015 and 2016 finals held at Coventry Golf Club and Little Aston Golf Club respectively.

Now though, the Northern Ireland-based Assistant has finished his three-year course to qualify as a PGA professional.

And that means he will take up his place in the £32,000 showpiece event which will be held at Coxmoor Golf club in Nottinghamshire between August 2-4.

Shannon qualified for the event with a joint fourth placed finish at the qualifying event held at Co Meath Golf Club last May.

“I’ve just finished my training and have been unable to go to the final for the past two years, I had exams last year at a horrendous time and I said it’d be better to put my head down and get on with it rather than travel, so I’m looking forward to this one,” he explained.

“I’d rather get through the studies and focus on my career ahead.”

Shannon is leaning towards using his PGA qualification for coaching rather than seeking a playing career.

“I speak to people who play on the Tour and it’s not an easy life, you’re on your own a lot and you’re away from home, there’s a lot of travelling involved, it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be, I’m not going to qualify then just take off - so it’s great for me to coach and play when I want to,” he said.

Shannon admits he is a late arrival to the professional ranks: “I played some amateur golf when I was younger, but I spent a few years as a joiner and carpenter. But I was always coming back to golf at some stage, I just found myself giving out tips. So I decided to take the PGA route and here I am.”

Other Assistants from Ireland due to play at Coxmoor include: Eoin Arthurs (Kinsealy Grange Golf Academy); Michael McGeady (Seamus Duffy Golf Academy); Ciaran McKenna (Mallow Golf Club);   Victoria Bradshaw (Belvoir Park Golf Club); Shane Jenkinson (St Margaret's Golf & Country Club) and Steven Quinlan  (Halpenny Golf Club).

For more information about the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Final click here.