Dad-to-be seeks ‘nappy’ ending at Fourball Championship

A Cornwall golf pro is set for a double test as he prepares for a championship final over his home course just days before his first child is born.

PGA Professional Ross Whitelock, 33, will attempt to put aside the requirements of impending fatherhood to compete in the final of the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship final at St Mellion on August 20-22.

Preparation time has been limited for the Plymouth golfer (pictured) ahead of the £33,250 BMW-supported showpiece, where he will partner close friend Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton), because he has been preparing for the earlier-than-expected arrival.

“The pregnancy came as a slight shock to me and my wife, albeit a nice shock,” Whitelock admitted.

“We were due to get married this summer and planned to have a baby afterwards, but then we found out that we were already a few months pregnant!

“That meant we had to bring the wedding forward and we’ve been out buying everything you could possibly need for a new family ever since.”

Yet despite that impacting on time playing the course, Whitelock is confident he and Hendriksen can impress at St Mellion.

“I definitely think we have every chance,” he said.            

“I may not have been out on the course as much as I’d like before an event, but Paul is playing very well and I’m sure we’ll be okay.

“He is a very good golfer with no real weaknesses, and he hits the ball incredibly straight.

“Obviously, the opportunity to play over my home course could have advantages, but there are also other pressures, like the fact that I’m sure a lot of the members will be there watching how I’m getting on.

“But there is a certain comfort factor that comes from playing your home course, and knowing it so well.

“St Mellion is a great test of golf, it’ll punish you if you make mistakes but will also be very rewarding, with plenty of birdie opportunities if you play well.

“For me, and I say this as a golfer not as the club’s professional, it’s one of the best courses around and one that I’ve always enjoyed playing.”

Other pairings from the West Region playing in the final include Mark Wiggett and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury), Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) and Richard Sadler (Killiow), Grant Slater and Gary Lenaghan (both Trevose), Gary and James Stafford (Burton on Trent and Puma Golf respectively), and Benjamin Martin (Exeter) and James Pickard (Honiton).