Butterfield plays a blinder at Tyrrells Wood

Andrew Butterfield admitted playing ‘blind’ worked to his advantage after topping the leaderboard at the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship south qualifying event at Tyrrells Wood Golf Club.

The former European Tour player made it into the grand final with a three under par round of 68.

Butterfield, of Knole Park Golf Club near Sevenoaks, pipped Ben Daniels (Horton Park Golf Club) and Nicholas Mitchell (Theale Golf Centre) by one shot at the Surrey venue.

They will join ten other qualifiers at the £91,500 grand final which will be held at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club in Somerset on June 2-5.

It was new territory for Kent-based Butterfield who spent 17 years on the Tour and he said the course was one that provided a real test.

“I’ve really only become a club professional in recent years, I hadn’t had a lot to do with that side of the game,” he said.

“But I decided this was the direction to go in, my rankings were slipping and I was doing more coaching.

“I joined Knole Park as head professional two and a half years ago.

“But playing at Tyrrells Wood was new to me and I found it very tricky.

“Sometimes though it’s good not to know where the trouble spots are on a course you’re playing blind.

“As it turned out, I had a good front nine and did all the hard work there when it came to qualifying.

“The back nine caught me out a little and I made a couple of mistakes.

“I was five under par at one stage, but I made two bogeys and then missed a chance of more birdies late on.

“So I could’ve done better, but I played quite nicely and was pleased.”

Butterfield admits he is aiming to win at Burnham but is looking no further at the moment.

“I know a lot of the players are aiming for the PGA Cup in the USA this year,” he said.

“But that’s not my priority.

“I shall simply be focusing on the final and trying to win it. I haven’t played as much as before in recent years so this’ll be a chance to do well again.

“I hear Burnham is a lovely course so I’m really looking forward to it.”

The winner at Burnham & Berrow is also in line to drive away with a Peugeot 308 GT for the use of for a year courtesy of the car giant.