Butcher heads to turkey as Nuneaton triumph

Butcher Tim Parker carved up the opposition as Nuneaton Golf Club booked a trip to Turkey for the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge.

Parker (left) teamed up with PGA Professional Craig Phillips (right) for the qualifying event which, for the first time, was held at Vale Golf & Country Club near Evesham.

And the Warwickshire duo demolished the rest of the field with a 10-under-par round of 64 to win by two shots.

They beat Mark Butler and Steve Barrett of Sedgley Golf Club, into second spot.

The Nuneaton pairing will now take part in the £25,000 final, supported by Canopius, over the PGA Sultan course at Antalya Golf Club, Turkey, from November 21-22.

Parker, the club’s youngest ever captain at 47, admitted Phillips won the day with his man-management techniques.

The Nuneaton captain, who plays off a handicap of 14, explained: “Craig never told me the prize was to go to Turkey for the final.

“And all the way around, he never once told me how well we were doing. Even though we were ahead, I never knew until the end.

“I’ve never won anything in golf before after more than 30 years at Nuneaton, but this was a great day for us and a great day for the club. I didn't want to let Craig down.

Phillips is a former finalist in this competition.

He said: “It was ironic that a butcher is on his way to Turkey!

“But seriously, Tim played well and had no idea what we’d won at the end.

“The prize alone for winning this is tremendous.

“I’d played this course quite a lot when it was new, but that was 10 years ago.

“I thought it was a fantastic venue.”