Campbell rings the changes to end wait for final spot

Michael Campbell made it third time lucky at the PGA Assistants' Championship Midlands qualifying event at Coventry Golf Club.

The Kettering Golf Club final year Assistant had failed to make the final in each of his previous two attempts.

But he topped the leaderboard in style this time with a four under par round of 69 to win by one shot ahead of Hayden Berridge of Erewash Valley Golf Club.

They will now join 15 other qualifiers at the £32,000, Birdietime-supported, grand final which is being played at Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey between July 3-5.

Campbell admitted he took a different approach to this year’s qualifying event at Coventry - and it paid off.

He recorded just one bogey all day, at the ninth hole, before easing home on the back nine.

“I’m very happy to make the final, especially as I’d just missed out on qualifying before by one shot each time, and it’d been a bit frustrating,” said the 25-year-old Northamptonshire player.

“I’d played Coventry the previous two years and missed out, so I just tried to take it steady and the main priority was just to qualify.

“So there was a change of plan this time. I had it in my head as to how I was going to play the course and kept to that.

“I hit a lot of irons off the tee and found the greens. It was good.”

Campbell admitted the Farleigh venue will be a new one to him. But he plans to play more now that his studies are over and has lined up a EuroPro Tour place.

“Before I took the PGA course I was playing as an amateur and represented the county,” he said.

“I wanted the PGA qualification behind me which is why I did it. But I’ve been playing a little bit this year and I’ll do some EuroPro Tour later in the year as well.

“I’ve had a brief look at Farleigh, but it’s not a course I’ve played before, it looks like a good venue.”