Former dairy farmer is cream of the crop with Houston at Pleasington
06/09/2021
A retired dairy farmer says he had the ‘best day’s golf of his life’ after sealing a trip to Italy for the final of the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge.
Carden Park Golf Resort captain Andy Latham teamed up with the club’s PGA Professional, former European Tour and PGA Cup player, Garry Houston.
And the pair won the North A qualifying event held at Pleasington Golf Club by just one point.
They completed the day with two successive birdies to finish top of the leaderboard with 47 points at the Blackburn venue.
The Cheshire-based duo edged out Peter Crosby and Jamie Howarth, of Davenport Golf Club, and David Codd and Scott Jackson, from Disley Golf Club, who tied for second spot.
Now Latham (above, left) and Welshman Houston will head for the final which is due to be held at the Agentario Golf Resort, Porto Ercole, next month.
“It was the best day’s golf I’ve ever had, in terms of the way it went right for 18 holes,” said four-handicapper Latham.
“When you’re playing with someone like Garry, he’s a heck of a putter and a great player to be with in an event like this.
“He gives you a great deal of confidence. We think he was seven or eight under on his own for the day.”
Latham says the prize on offer for the winners is a real highlight for the captains involved in the event.
“It’s a great prize, you get a real taste of being a professional and it’s something you want to do as a golfer,” he added.
“But it’s the only taste I’ll ever get, I won’t be captain again. This is a great opportunity.”
Latham admitted being captain at a venue such is Carden Park is a different experience and says the resort owes much to its owner, Steve Morgan, the founder of the housebuilders Redrow and former chairman of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“We’re lucky we’ve got a good owner who has put money in to Carden Park and continues to invest,” he said.
“We’ve got two good courses, but it’s about the resort as a whole.”
CLICK HERE for a full list of scores
