Crumplin to contest for Assistants’ crown at Brocket Hall

15/07/2025

We speak to Disley’s Josh Crumplin, who is aiming for glory in the Coca-Cola PGA Assistants' Championship at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire

Brocket Hall plays host to the Coca-Cola PGA Assistants' Championship as 144 hopefuls battle it out for the first prize of £5,000.

This prestigious tournament has been running since 1930 – previous winners include Dai Rees, Peter Alliss, Tony Jacklin and Barry Lane while Matthew Cort won it three years on the trot from 2011 to 2013.

Brocket Hall features two courses and it will be The Palmerston, a tree-lined Donald Steel design, which will provide the three-round test which gets underway on July 22.

In the field for the first time is Josh Crumplin, who currently heads the Chrome Tour Open Series Order of Merit. The Disley player, who has just completed his first year of training, won his first start when he shot 63-63 to capture the Manchester Open (North). He nearly followed it up at Bovey Castle (West), where he finished third and he was recently second at the Surrey Open (South).

"It's like a major for the year for the Assistants. Obviously, it's our tournament that we can play in but it would be up there with the top three biggest tournaments of the year. As an assistant we can play in the Open Series and the English PGA, so getting in and playing in them is massive – and the prize money is incredible," explains the Disley trainee.

Crumplin actually topped the North qualifying for the event when he was the only player to break par at Bury Golf Club. 

"We'll head down to Brocket the day before and play it in the afternoon. I've got my SkyCaddie which I use religiously, especially in practice rounds and I'll get all my notes from that. And I'll have my regular caddy with me, which I've had most of my career which has been a massive help." 

"It's like a major for the year for the Assistants. Obviously, it's our tournament that we can play in but it would be up there with the top three biggest tournaments of the year”

- Josh Crumplin

The 28-year-old's first three starts in PGA events were a string of 63s and, if he were to analyse his own game, it would be the putter that stands out.

"I probably spend most of my time on my short game and putting is definitely my big strength. For the last two seasons I've really got off the tee a lot straighter and a lot better so that gives you a lot more chances.

"I'm probably not the best into the greens but, off the tee, I definitely can try and give myself 18 chances and then putting is the strongest part of my game. So that's where the scoring's come from."

Twelve months ago, Brampton's Matty Lamb captured the title by five shots from Alister Balcombe (Weston Super Mare) to land the £5,000 first prize, a spot in the 2025 PGA Play-Offs and a years’ supply of Coca-Cola products. Lamb put together rounds of 66, 70 and a closing 64 which included a pair of eagles on the front nine.

The first three PGA Assistants' Championships were played over 36 holes. There were a handful of years where it was played as a matchplay format and it has been contested over three rounds since 2003.