Walley hopes for fourth PGA Pro-Captain title

Kedleston Park Golf Club Head Professional Ian Walley will be aiming for a fourth title when he plays in the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge in association with Prostate Cancer UK and Asbri. 

Walley will team up with amateur partner Carl Barker for the £22,000 tournament which takes place in Italy from October 11-12 at the Argentario Golf Resort & Spa in Porto Ercole.

But the Derbyshire professional has almost made the event his own in recent years with three victories and a runners-up spot from four appearances.

Walley will be aiming to add another win to that list of honours, but he knows, as ever, there is plenty by way of competition for the top spot.

“I’m not really sure what it is with myself and this competition, but over the years I’ve had a really good run in it,” said Walley, who qualified with 12-handicapper Baker by winning at Coxmoor Golf Club in August.

“I’ve played with some great captains and Carl is the latest one. He’s done a really good job at the club and it’s really nice for him that he's playing in this event.”

Barker knows he will be in safe hands with Walley, after his run of success.

“I’ve won it three times now, over the past nine years, and I was runner-up before that, so this is the fifth time I’ve played in the final,” he said.

“Carl plays quite nicely, we won our qualifier with 49 points, so if he can hit a bit of form in Italy, then we’ll be okay.

“We’ll see, I’m sure there’s some very good pairing out there, it gets quite competitive.

“I’ve actually not played that much golf over the last three years due to the disruption of the pandemic.”

Walley says, post-Covid, Kedleston Park is not short of people wanting to play.

“It’s just got busier and busier,” he said. “We’ve got a driving range and a studio now, so I’ve been living the club-pro life if you like. But it’ll get great out to Italy - I’ve not played this venue before, but I’ve heard good things about it.

“Hopefully, we get some decent weather and we can take it from there.”

Among those also taking part in the final are:  Jordan Gallagher and Jim Downie (Baberton); Llewwellyn Miller and Andrew Shepherd (Fairwood Park); Can McNamara and Donal Delaney (Monkstown); David Clark and Steve Redpath (Morpeth); Robert Daw and Hugh Whitlow (Royal Ascot); Jon Bevan and Andrew Fowler (Sandwell Park); Craig Cowper and Lawrence Wilton (Surrey Downs); Matt Davies and Gary Tweedie (Vale of Llangollen); and Phil Abbott and Neil Brown (Whipsnade Park).

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