Clarke hoping final bid is safe as houses

Lee Clarke is building for the future as he prepares to tee off in the English PGA Championship Midlands qualifier.

The Beeston Fields Golf Club professional and member of the victorious 2015 PGA Cup team is aiming to get to the final of the competition - eight years after he last played in it.

The competition has been revived this year after last being staged in 2010.

Clarke will join professionals from all over the Midlands for the qualifying event which is being played at Robin Hood Golf Club in Solihull on Thursday, May 3.

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

But Clarke has also begun a new venture which is hopes will allow him to concentrate fully on his golf.

“I’ve started a property development business with my brother, it’s totally separate from my golf but, long term, I hope it’ll help my game,” he explained.

“We’re trying to plan something for the future, it’s something I’ve been involved in for about eight months. We’re doing two projects at the moment.

“The aim is for it to allow me to go back playing full-time one day.

“I love golf so much and the goal is for me to get to a position where I can go out and play golf like I did when I was a kid.”

Clarke welcomes the return of the English PGA Championship and says it is one of his priorities for this year.

He will be aiming to reach his second final in six days as he qualified for the PGA Professional Championship last week at Little Aston.

And Clarke says reaching the final of the English PGA would be a chance to see a familiar face again.

The head professional at Saunton Golf Club is Albert McKenzie, the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team vice-captain for the 2015 PGA Cup win in CordeValle.

“I know Albert very well, so if I can get to the final of the English PGA it’d be good to see him again - he might even put me up!” Smiled Clarke.

“But I’ve got my goals for 2018 and 2019 written up on the office wall, I’ve qualified for the PGA Professional Championship so it’d be nice to get some PGA Cup points again.”