08/05/2015
A London golf pro who took his first swings in New York before moving to the UK is looking to claim a place in his second national final in two years.
Erik Nilsson, 23, is set for a renewed tilt at the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship, starting with the regional qualifier at Sittingbourne & Milton Regis on May 12.
The Burhill Golf Club assistant professional has come a long way – and not just in terms of air miles – from the high school golfer who grew up in the Big Apple but left aged 15 when his parents decided to move to Britain.
Nilsson, who lives in Putney, quickly overcame any culture shocks from the move and is now in the second year of The PGA’s Foundation Degree Programme. In a years’ time he will fulfil a long-term ambition and become a fully-qualified PGA Professional.
He then hopes to work his way through the professional tours and perhaps one day return Stateside to play at the highest level.
But first Nilsson will attempt to make it through the south regional qualifier and claim a place at the £32,500 championship final at Coventry Golf Club on August 5-7.
He played in the hotly-contested final last year which was eventually won by Abbeydale’s Gareth Davies, an experience he admitted was a huge learning curve.
“You turn up at the final and you really get the feeling that you’ve arrived at a proper event,” he recalled.
“It’s the pinnacle for us assistant professionals and an event I’ve really been looking forward to. I really hope that I can qualify to return and play in it again.
“Playing is where I see my career going and who knows where that will take me. Maybe one day I’ll return to the States to play over there.
“But for now I’m in a really good place at Burhill where they are really helping me to develop as a pro.
“And with the degree behind me I know I have got a good education that is making me well-rounded and prepared for if I decide I want a career in golf that doesn’t involve playing.”
Nilsson’s Burhill colleagues Tom Gamble and Morgan Kennedy will also feature in the qualifier.
Mike Johnson-Hill, managing director of Galvin Green UK, said: “Galvin Green is proud to be associated with such a long-standing and valued event and keen to support the younger generation of PGA Professionals who are so important to the future of the game.”
"The popularity of this event among aspiring PGA Professionals is great to see and we are delighted to be playing a small part in their progression in the game.”
Other players competing in the qualifier at Sittingbourne & Milton Regis include: Daniel Anderson (Wentworth), Fabio Carminati (Chelsfield Lakes), Jack Harrison (Wildwood), Mark James (Devil’s Dyke), Stuart McLaren (Wisley) and Joshua Rideout (Queenwood).