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A record-breaking Kent
pro will aim to carve out
another slice of history by
winning the prestigious
Glenmuir PGA Professional
Championship later this
month. Scott Stevens, a
teaching pro at Staplehurst
Golf Centre in Tonbridge,
warmed up for Great Britain
and Ireland's flagship event
for PGA professionals with
a brilliant five-under-par 65
course record at Surrey's
historic Laleham Golf Club.
"I was delighted with the
record because it was the
first time I've ever played
the course," he said.
The 33-year-old now
hopes his rich vein of form
will serve him well when
he tees up in the 72-hole
final at Dundonald Links,
near Troon. Stevens, who
spent two years playing
on the Challenge Tour
alongside the likes of
former Masters champion
Trevor Immelman,
booked his place in the
156-man field by topping
last month's qualifier
at Prince's alongside
Tonbridge Golf Centre's
Jamie Harris, and is hoping
for an upturn in fortunes
in the �78,000 event.George Ryall underlined his
class at Northants County
when he outplayed the
rest of the field to win the
Senior PGA Professional
Championship by all
of five shots. In his rookie
year as a senior, the
50-year-old from Bristol,
having begun the day two
strokes ahead of defending
champion, Bill Lockie,
eventually pulled away,
thanks to a rampant inward
half which gave up four
birdies in five holes from
the 12th. That finally added
up to a two-under 68 for
an aggregate of 208. "This
win means so much to me,
especially in my first year
as a senior," said Ryall.
"They're all my peer group
or players whom I've looked
up to for years."
Another major benefit is
the `leg-up' his victory gives
him in gaining access to
the European Senior Tour
� "That's where I want to be."
He'll now tee up with
the top elder statesmen
of the continent's 50
and over players at
Northumberland's Slaley
Hall in a month's time in
the De Vere Collection PGA
Seniors Championship.
Lockie, partnering the
eventual winner, made a
robust defense of his title,
taking second place on 213
after a final round of 71.
A well-travelled amateur golfer is poised for a new stamp in his passport after
winning an all-expenses paid trip to Turkey in Europe's largest pro-am.
Colchester-based Ian Cottee, a manager with a leading book distributor, took a leaf
out of the professional's book to ensure he and Five Lakes pro Gary Carter claimed
victory in the regional final of the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship
at King's Lynn. Cottee, who plays off 10, plundered a nett eagle at the 11th and a
birdie on 17, which ensured the duo won on countback from Canons Brook pro Alan
McGinn and partner Ollie O'Hara after the teams tied on seven-under-par 65. The Five
Lakes duo were only one under at the turn, but with former England amateur Carter
also claiming an eagle at 10 and birdie at 14, they were always in the box seat with just
eight teams to come home from a field of more than 50.
W
hile the stars of the
European Tour grabbed
the headlines at last
month's BMW PGA
Championship, an unsung PGA
professional was also enjoying a
rare opportunity to step into the
limelight. Surrey's Jon Woodroffe
was at Wentworth to receive the Golf
Foundation's Burroughs Award for his
outstanding efforts in teaching golf
to youngsters with a variety of difficulties.
The Sutton-based golfer, who is a
Fellow of the PGA, was recognised
for his achievements when director of
golf at Pedham Place in Swanley, Kent
where he delivered coaching to special
needs children including those with
learning and physical difficulties and
behavioural problems.
But Woodroffe, who recently took
up a new coaching post at World of
Golf in New Malden, admitted initially
he didn't think he was even up to the
task despite having introduced more
than 16,000 beginners to golf during his
career. "I took a fair bit of convincing
initially because part of it involved
working with special needs schools
which I'd had no experience of," said
Woodroffe, who worked closely with
Dartford Schools Partnership. "I wasn't
sure if I had the skills to do that and
also deal with kids for example with
behavioural problems.
"Anyway, I was cajoled into it and it
just turned out to be the most amazing
experience. It was just so much fun
and I didn't realise it would suit me so
much. It was something different but
golf transcends everything. The beauty
of golf is that it's fun for the kids, and
everyone with a little bit of instruction
can have a go at hitting a ball at some
level. The emphasis is on making it
fun � the coaching is not too serious
or involved and there is always lot
of games and competitions with the
fantastic Tri Golf and Xtreme Golf kits
provided by the Golf Foundation.
Pedham pro lands prestigious award Scottaimsfor
Glenmuirglory
Ryall savours maiden victory Slaley offer!
Pro'sadvicenetsCotteeTurkeytrip
Golf fans can see Gordon
J Brand defend the De Vere
Collection PGA Seniors
Championship at Slaley Hall
from June 25-28, where he
will face stiff competition
from in-form Sam Torrance
who is chasing a third title.
To celebrate the return of the
event to the Northumberland
resort a limited number of
complimentary tickets are
available. To register log
onto: www.devere-hotels.
co.uk/pga.
G
lenmuir, sponsor of the PGA Professional
Championship, is offering two lucky Golf News
readers the chance to win a Glenmuir Hi Cool
Sports polo shirt, as worn by Europe's Ryder
Cup stars in Valhalla last year. The lightweight Hi Cool
Sport shirt features the Hi-Cool Moisture Management
System � delivering extra stretch performance while
drawing moisture away from the body to keep the golfer
dry and comfortable. To enter the competition just answer
the question below and email your entry, including your
name, address and telephone number and shirt size to
info@golfnews.co.uk, marked `Glenmuir Competition' in
the subject line. Entries close on July 30, 2009.
Question: Who will be Europe's Ryder Cup captain
at Celtic Manor in 2012?
Glenmuir Hi-Cool
polos to be won!
Jon Woodroffe with Ken Scholfield

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