Chipping Sodbury set to double up for English challenge

Chipping Sodbury Golf Club will stage a double bid to qualify for the final when they host the English PGA Championship west qualifier.

The competition has been revived this year after an eight year gap.

And the Gloucestershire venue will host some of the region’s top professionals on May 3.

They will be aiming to reach the final which is being held at Saunton Golf Club in Devon between 27-29 June.

And Chipping Sodbury professional Robin Goodey says he hopes the club will have at least one representative there.

“I’m not sure about my own chances but Giuseppe Licata is also playing,” he said.

“I’ve hardly played this year, I’d be more shocked than anyone if I qualified, I’ll leave that to our other pro Giuseppe, he’s the playing professional here now, he’s been here two years now and has just regained the Gloucester and Somerset Order of Merit. So he’s doing well.”

Goodey says Chipping Sodbury are delighted to once again be hosting a PGA event.

“We like to have these events to show the club off and also to bring the pros in, we had the PGA West pros qualifier here in 2015 and the England Golf County Seniors Championship in 2016,” he said.

“We like our golf course and think it’s a very good venue. It’s early in the season, and, given the weather we’ve had, it’ll be a challenge.

“It’s a parkland course, 7,000 yards and lots of water hazards. You have to plot your way round and think about what club you’re using.

“It’s good to see the English PGA Championship back, it’s always good to have another tournament to play in.”