Cornwall pair right on Kew to book Turkey spot

Cornwall’s St Kew Golf Club have their eyes on another top prize after reaching the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge final in Turkey.

Head professional Richard O’Hanlon (right) - currently National PGA Pro-Am Champion - teamed up with club captain Scott Chandler for the qualifying event held at Blackmoor Golf Club in Hampshire.

And they booked their place in another final after carding a seven under par round of 62 to beat Tim Allen and Harvey Terry  of Cowdray Park Golf Club in Sussex, and Rob Humphrey and Nigel Jupp of Surrey’s Tyrrells Wood Golf Club by one shot.

The Cornish duo will now play in the £25,000 Canopius-supported showpiece final to be held at the PGA Sultan Club in Antalya, Turkey, on November 25-26.

It will also be O’Hanlon’s second appearance in the Pro-Captain Challenge final in the space of two years.

And Chandler says the club’s professional is on a hot streak of form - O’Hanlon is also challenging for the end of season PGA Play-Offs via the West Order of Merit.

“This really is his time,” said Chandler, aged 48 and an antique dealer from Wadebridge.

“He not only plays a lot of golf, he plays a lot of good golf. Richard really raises the profile of the club and a lot of people come here because of him.

“Our owner Johnny Brown backs him all the way and Richard is winning things.”
 
Nine handicapper Chandler is coming back to the game after a gap - and previously he was a county level amateur.

“I knew Richard wanted to win and I think he realised I could play a bit,” he added.

“He never likes to put any pressure on the amateur during these events, but I think he knew I was capable of helping out if we were in any trouble.”

But they only won through after A mixed back nine which saw them make six birdies but also two bogeys, including one at the 18th hole.

They did enough to edge out their rivals however with O’Hanlon - who played his golf in the Midlands before moving to Cornwall - looking to bag another title to add to last year’s triumph at the famous Gleneagles course.

“I’ve been playing golf 24 days on the trot at the moment,” he said.

“The owners at St Kew want me to play and they came to watch me at Wentworth when I qualified for the BMW PGA Championship.

“I think I’ve played 47 rounds of competitive golf so far this year. It’s been non-stop but I just want to compete which is what you have to do if you’re going to win these tournaments.”