Chris aiming to Gane ground in PGA Cup bid

Surrey professional Chris Gane has his sights set firmly on a PGA Cup debut this year.

But the 42-year-old former European and Challenge Tour pro will need to make a rare appearance in the South A qualifying event of the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship which takes place on May 4 at Reading’s Sonning Golf Club.

Gane has an impressive record in the event with a fourth place grand final finish in 2014, before coming 10th 12 months later.

But last year he ended up in 26th place after carding 76 in the third round at The Oxfordshire.

That means he has to try and get through to the £78,000 showpiece final which is being held between June 13-16 at Luttrellstown Castle Golf Club near Dublin.

“I’ve come close to making the PGA Cup squad before,” said Gane who represents Left Handed Golf at Silvermere.

“I almost made it in a couple of years ago when the event was being held in the USA. But if I’d had two results the other way around I would've got in.

“A 10th finish then fourth would have seen me selected. But the whole double points thing in the second year worked against me.

“But that’ll be the case in this year’s final so I’ll be trying - I’ve got to get there first though.

“I’m also competing in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth so I’ll use this as part of my preparation.

“At this stage of the season, it’s too early to know who’s going to be doing what and it’s be the first time I’ve tried to qualify for a few years.”

Gane is working closely with the Robert Rock Academy at Silvermere and says the response from the area has been tremendous.

“I know Rob from my days on Tour of course and now I work to help make the academy a success,” said Gane, who has 330 Tour events to his name.

“And the reaction has been astounding when you see the number of people who want to be a part of it.

“I’ve been based at Silvermere for a few years now, so when you see that happening it’s very satisfying.”

Other players from the south of England set to take part in the event at Sonning Golf Club include: Sian James (Wentworth Club); Daniel Ball (Bearwood Lakes Golf Club); Jonathan Barnes (Lee-on-The-Solent Golf Club); Ryan Fitzgerald  (Burgess Hill Golf Academy); Scott Marshall (The Lambourne Club); Mark Bell (Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club)and Larry Batchelor (Redlibbets Golf Club).