Davies sent back to Coventry

Sheffield’s Gareth Davies has recovered from a back injury in time to return to Coventry and mount a defence of his Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship title.

Davies, 38, of Abbeydale Golf Club, will head to the prestigious West Midlands layout on August 5-7 for the £32,500 grand final just weeks after returning from a two month spell away from the golf course

Last time out the Yorkshireman took the title after a nail-biting play-off against Littlestone’s Charles Wilson.

That saw him claim a spot in the end of season Play-Offs as well as giving him the chance to tee up in the Australian PGA Futures Championship where he finished in the top 10. A place down under is up for grabs again this time around.

“The end of last year was great, I enjoyed having the opportunity to go over to Australia and then Turkey for the Play-Offs,” he enthused.

“I felt I could have done better results-wise but it was great to go into the end of the season when most people are packing the clubs away still with something to play for.”

Davies admitted his bid for a second consecutive title has been curtailed due to his injury.

“I really wanted to go out there and win again, but to be honest I haven’t played a lot this year,” he admitted.

“We had a little girl a month ago so she’s been keeping me busy. My focus has been on her as well as studying for my PGA Foundation Degree and working at the club.

“But we’ll see how it goes, I’m just delighted to have made it back from my injury in time to go out there and play the event.”

The winner at Coventry will secure a four-day trip to Sweden courtesy of title sponsors Galvin Green, who will provide a tour of the iconic brand’s headquarters in Vaxjo.

The championship, open to PGA Professionals completing their PGA training, is one of the oldest on the PGA’s national tournament schedule. It even pre-dates the US Masters having been first held in 1930.

Other players from the north region competing in the final include: Adam Hodkinson (Chorlton-Cum-Hardy), Anthony Dempsey (Helsby), Danny Cowell (Cottingham), Daniel Hood (Fulford), Luke Howe (Brocton Hall), Andrew Rigby (Leeds Golf Club) and James Freeman (Owston Hall).