Andrews aims for knockout performance

Ashton on Mersey PGA Professional Kris Andrews enlisted the help of his champion boxer of a step-brother to help him achieve his dream of success on the golf course.

32-year-old Andrews, who comes from Droylsden, near Manchester, spent hours in the gym with former light-middleweight champion ‘Prince’ Arron Jones in an attempt to improve his fitness and strength.

And results were forthcoming last year as he claimed his first professional victory in September, beating the often irrepressible David Shacklady in the James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore.

Now he will hope to take that form on to the next level into the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship, beginning with a qualifier at Delamere Forest on May 30.

And should he finish among the front-runners, he will gain a coveted slot in the final of the £78,700 Peugeot-supported showpiece at Blairgowrie on August 5-8.

“I’m feeling confident that I can qualify for the final, and hopefully make the cut in the main event,” he explained.

“This is about as big as it gets for us club professionals, and it would be nice to do well after working on my form in the region.

“Obviously it was awesome to win a major Order of Merit event last year, and I want to carry that form through to this summer.

“It was a big event with a lot of good players, and to be honest it felt a bit weird when I actually managed to win it!”

Sports-nut Andrews, who alongside golf also has a passion for rugby union, admits that combining golf with boxing training reaped dividends on the course.

“You’d be amazed at how well the attributes you develop in boxing fit into golf,” he said.

“Boxing uses a lot of lower body muscles like your hips and your legs, similar to golf, and that helps you to hit the ball further and with more consistency.”

Now Andrews hopes to build on his good form over the course of a busy year.

“I’m lucky because the club are encouraging me to play in as many events as possible,” he said.

“So I’m going to be entering everything I can. Graham [Maly, secretary of The PGA in England and Wales (North)] has put a great schedule together for the region and I want to be involved with as much of it as I possibly can.”

Matthew Eagle, UK and Eire sales director at Glenmuir, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our sponsorship of the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship, which is very well respected as the flagship event for PGA Professionals in Great Britain and Ireland.

“Once again the schedule promises to take in a number of outstanding courses, with Blairgowrie offering a fine venue for this year’s final in August, which is sure to be as intriguing as ever.”

“We look forward to another exciting tournament, and wish all the competitors the best of luck ahead of the event.”

Other golfers competing in the qualifier include: Curtis Dean (Hesketh), Simon Edwards (Windermere), Grant Hamerton (Pike Fold), Gareth Jones (Royal St Davids), Stuart Runcie (Abergele) and Andrew Witherup (Formby).