Coles targets third generation PGA Assistants’ Championship victory

26/07/2023

Conor Coles (The Wisley) is on course to emulate both is father and grandfather by keeping it in the family and winning the Coca-Cola PGA Assistants’ Championship.

Playing in what is clearly a special event for his family, Coles shot a five-under-par round of 67 on day two of this year’s championship and currently sits top of the leaderboard alongside Daniel Brown (Sene Valley Golf Club) on 10-under-par heading into Thursday’s finale at Farleigh.

“My dad actually won this event in 1985 and my grandad won it in 1959, so this has been pencilled in my diary as wanting to win for a long time,” explained Coles. “I felt a little bit of pressure out there as I was coming in, but managed to get it in nicely on the last few holes and I’m in a good position for tomorrow.”

After two solid rounds, Coles has a plan for the final day’s play, adding: “The plan is just to not hit any really foul shots and keep the ball in play.

“There are chances out there, you just have to keep giving yourself looks and putts will drop. The first, eighth, and 17th are the holes in my mind where if you get a good tee shot away, they’re the three toughest in my mind, so get through those and all the par 5’s are reachable in two, and there’s a few short par 4’s which I’ve managed to take advantage of today and hopefully I can do again tomorrow.”

Coles is joined on 10-under-par by Brown who played well last time the championship was held at Farleigh.

He said: “I really like the course - it’s one of those courses where you can stay pretty patient out there.

"You’ve got a lot of opportunities if you’re hitting the ball well - if you don’t make a birdie, you know there’s potentially one coming round the corner.”

Four players sit tied in third position two shots back on eight-under-par including Joshua Bristow (Ashford Golf Club), Graeme Robertson (Fairways Golf Studios), Paul Kinnear (Hurlston Hall Golf Club), who scored an impressive 65 to move up 22 places on the leaderboard, and Melissa Wood (Meltham Golf Club), who secured the Farleigh women’s course record with her second round score of 67.

CLICK HERE to view a full list of scores after day two of the PGA Assistants’ Championship.