Clarke aims to cram Fourball success into packed year

Lee Clarke feels like he is trying to squeeze a year’s worth of golf into eight months as he prepares for the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship final.

The Beeston Fields Golf Club professional heads for the £35,000 Skycaddie & BMW supported event at Carden Park in Cheshire between August 12-14.

Clarke, who will partner Jack Lynch of Chesterfield’s Tapton Park Golf Course, has already booked his place in the GB and Ireland squad to face the USA in the PGA Cup to be held in California next September.

And Clarke admits he has had little time to think about his Stateside trip or using Carden Park as a warm up.

The Nottingham player is in the middle of a busy schedule and has already clinched a top four finish at the PGA Professional Championship final at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club.

“As well as the Fourball final and the PGA Cup I’ve been trying to qualify for the end of season play-offs via the Order of Merit,” said Clarke.

“But the last event clashes with the PGA Cup so it looks like it might be a no-go for the play offs.

“It’s been like trying to cram a year’s worth of golf into eight months recently.

“People might think I’m using Carden Park to prepare for California.

“But I actually haven’t had time to think about the PGA Cup yet.

“I’m trying to manage my game throughout the year and I want to make sure I don’t get too fatigued.

“My trouble is that I like to play throughout the winter - you can’t not play can you!

“But whereas some players are peaking now, I could go off the boil a bit and I don’t want that.”

Clarke has good memories of Carden Park.

“I played in the PGA Professional Championships a couple of years ago and got a top 10 finish,” he added.

“So I like the venue.

“And I’m looking forward to playing with Jack who’s a lovely lad, I’ve known him since he was a kid.

“And he really is capable of getting some very low scores on his day.

“If he’s right on his game then I hope we can be up there.”

Other Midlands teams set to play at Carden Park are:  John Bandurak  (Lilleshall Hall Golf Club) and  Mark Butler  (Mark Butler Golf Academy); Kevin Crossland  (Worksop Golf Club) and Andrew Willey  (Bulwell Forest Golf Club); Simon Gabbitas and Josh Waldron (Hagley Golf Club); Bhavin Gandhi  and Jamie Hillier (Hollywood Golf Club); Rodney Holt and Mark Jordan (Silverstone Golf Club); and  James Whatley  (Morley Hayes Golf Club) and Ian Walley (Kedleston Park Golf Club).