Cowper keen to end wait for Fourball crown

A former Challenge Tour ace will compete for another piece of prestigious silverware when he tees off in the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship.

Surrey Downs PGA Professional Craig Cowper, 44, has experienced life at the top of his sport, including appearances in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the European Open at The Belfry.

Yet more recently he has taken his golfing skills onto the practice greens to share them with the next generation of Surrey golfers.

In mid-June the former Horton Park man moved to his new base to become a full-time teaching professional.

The move has reduced his playing time, but Cowper believes he and playing partner Neill O’Reilly can still flourish in this year’s BMW-supported event.

Cowper is no stranger to the event having finished second alongside then playing partner Mike King at Fulford in 2008. Six years on and he’s hoping to go one better, providing he can negotiate the regional qualifier at Woodcote Park on July 28.

The leading pairs in the regional showdown will play in the £33,250 grand final at Cornwall’s St Mellion on August 20-22.

“The change of job has impacted on the amount of time I get to go out and play,” he admitted.

“I’ve not played as much so I might be a little bit rusty, but I have a good partner in Neill and hopefully, with a bit of chance to practise before the day, we’ll stand a really good chance of doing well.

“I enjoy the fourball format, and I’ve played up at Woodcote Park a few times - it’s a really good test of golf.

“It’s the perfect course for an event like this and if we can grab three or four birdies we should be in the running to qualify.”

Cowper, for whom a vast chunk of his tournament experience was gained during his three-year stint on the Challenge Tour, has enjoyed passing on his experiences since he decided to begin switching his focus to teaching.

“Playing in big events, especially ones like the BMW, helps you with absolutely everything,” he explained.

“First and foremost, every event you play in feels a little less daunting as you have played in front of big galleries with immense amounts of pressure.

“Then of course you have all that experience to pass on to your students, which I am enjoying doing now.

“I loved every minute of playing in those sorts of events and to be able to pass on what I learnt from them is a great honour.

“And you never know, one day I might get the opportunity to play at that level again.”

Other duos competing in the Woodcote Park regional qualifier include: David Callaway and Paul Creamer (both Foxhills), Chris Evans and Steven Peters (both Tandridge), Tom Gamble and Erik Nilsson (both Burhill), and Steve Speller (Camberley Heath) and Christopher Hudson (Southwood).