Mellor uses know how to make first Glenmuir final

Former European Tour player John Mellor is set to make his debut in the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship Final after winning the qualifying event at Moor Allerton Golf Club.

Mellor, of The Oaks Golf Club in North Yorkshire, recorded a three-under-par round of 68 at the Leeds venue to win by one shot ahead of Chris McDonnell (Unattached), Nicholas Ludwell (Selby Golf Club) and Adam Davison (Waterton Park Golf Club).

Craig Fricker, of Styrrup Hall Golf & Country Club in South Yorkshire, made a hole-in-one at the eighth on his way to making the final with a level-par round of 71

They will join eight other qualifiers at the £78,700 Peugeot-supported event at Blairgowrie in Scotland on August 5-8.

Mellor’s Tour career spanned 13 years but this was only the second time he had attempted to reach the Glenmuir Final.

Much of his time is now spent teaching at the Walker’s Golf Academy which is based at The Oaks club, but he is still keen to use his vast experience as a player.

“This is an exciting result for me,” he said.

“But I started badly with a double bogey at the first hole.

“I’d played well the day before at the De Vere PGA North Region Championship, so I knew I just had to stay calm.

“After that I made seven birdies in 10 holes so I was happy with that.”

Mellor also hopes his good form will allow him to collect points towards next year’s PGA Cup squad.

“That’s all part of it,” he admitted.

“A lot of time is taken up at the Academy where I work with Graham Walker who’s been coaching me since I was about 14.

“We aim to try and find potential professionals of the future.

“But I still want to play well and getting to the final is a big thing for me. I’ve only ever tried once before and that was about 10 years ago.

“Spending years on the Tour means I’ve never really gone for this before but now I want to make the most of it.”