Bond bonanza at Burnham & Berrow

Welshman Liam Bond put his injury problems behind him to win the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship West qualifier at Bunrham & Berrow Golf Club.

Bond, of Chepstow’s Marriott St Pierre Hotel & Club, carded a two under par round of 69 at the Somerset links venue to win by just one shot ahead of Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court Golf Club) and Russell Berry (Ingon Manor Golf & Country Club).

They will join 11 other qualifiers including victorious PGA Cup captain Jon Bevan, at the £78,000 showpiece final being held The Oxfordshire course between July 26-29.

But Bond, 46. admitted he topped the leaderboard despite battling a back injury that ended his hopes of playing tour golf this year.

“I was at Tour School at Murcia in Spain last November and I felt my back go,” he explained.

“It meant I had to come home, I was doing well but that ended any hopes of playing on the tour this year.

“So now I’m playing domestically, but even then I have to do physio work on my back for 40 minutes before I can even hit a ball. It’s a whole new thing for me.

“I’m always a bit worried on the downswing in case it goes again. I suppose it’s a sign of getting old now!

“But it was okay here, I felt good and the conditions were ideal.”

Bond, who also runs a company offering tuition classes abroad throughout the year, admitted the day could not have gone better at a venue he enjoys playing.

“I think we should play more links golf, I enjoy Burnham as you never how it’s going to be depending on the wind, but with the weather improving it was just right for the players,” he said.

“I kept it steady and only dropped one shot on the back nine. I was pleased as it was a strong and experienced field.

“As for the final, I’ve played Frilford Heath near Oxford, but never The Oxfordshire, so this’ll be new for me.”