Davis heads the chase for honours at Haverhill

It was third time lucky for Norwich-born Chase Davis as he won the PGA Assistants’ Championship east qualifier.

Davis (pictured), representing Romford’s Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club, shot a level par round of 70 at Haverhill Golf Club in Suffolk to top the leaderboard.

He beat Nicholas Pateman (Pinner Hill); James Jankowski (Essendon Country Club); Nick Cunningham (Bedford & County) and James Noakes (Dyrham Park Country Club) by one shot.

Now Davis - along with 17 other qualifiers from the event - will head to Coventry Golf Club for the £32,500 FootJoy-supported final on June 11-13.

The 26-year-old made the most of his last chance to reach the showpiece event as he completes his PGA training this year.

Davis, formerly of Norfolk’s Costessey Park Golf Club before moving to Essex, admitted he was determined to improve on his previous showings.

“I didn’t manage to qualify for the last two years,” he explained.

“Last year I missed out after a play-off, so I knew this was my only chance to make the final, which I really want to play in because I’ve heard so many good things about it.

“But this year I’ve felt the pressure lifted because I’ve got my exams out of the way.

“Now I can concentrate on a summer of golf and maybe that showed in my game at Haverhill. I was pleased to do well because I’d never played the course before and I hadn’t really picked a club up properly this year until the day before the event.

“But it went well and I didn’t do too much wrong apart from a bogey at the 17th.”

Now Davis wants to continue his promising form in the region.

“I’ve got one eye on the end of the season PGA Play-Offs,” he said.

“Perhaps I’ve messed up in recent years by not realising how important they are but this year that’s a target for me.”

For more great images from the qualifier please click here