Galliford battles the elements to claim Asbri Welsh National PGA Championship title

06/09/2024

After two tough days of play at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club, where the relentless rain on day two tested the players' endurance, Zach Galliford (Ross on Wye Golf Club) claimed the 2024 Asbri Welsh National PGA Championship title by four shots.

Galliford was the only player to finish under par for the tournament after rounds of 70 and 71 (one-under-par). He said: “It's great to have won such a prestigious event and one of the tournaments I look forward to the whole year - great to get over the line and be victorious at the end of the day.

“On the first day I really just stayed patient out there. I knew it was going to be tough today but I started extremely well. I didn't hit many greens, but I could rely on my short game and putting, which was a big relief and a big stepping stone in terms of my golf too. The weather really turned on that back nine - there was a lot of rain and the ball wasn't going very far, so it was just all about trying to hit one shot at a time, try and just find the fairway and then go from there really. Stay patient, think smart and try to be mentally really good for whatever was thrown at me really.”

Galliford had an extra reason for wanting to win the Championship, as he’d previously won the Welsh Amateur Championship in 2016 and was keen to complete the set by winning the Professional Championship as well. He said: “It was great to win the Welsh Amateur at Southerndown Golf Club just down the road, and then to win the Professional now is phenomenal. I'm not sure how many people have done it, so it’s great.”

The tournament also awarded the Asbri Senior Welsh National PGA Championship title, open to players aged 50 years or over, and Richard Dinsdale (Asbri Golf Ltd) managed to successfully defend his 2023 title this year with a final score of 4-over-par (75, 71). Dinsdale said: “I’m delighted - I was lucky enough to win it last year, so I've won it two years in a row now. We've got so many good senior players, Sion Bebb, Garry Houston, Peter Evans, to name a few, so to beat them is absolutely fantastic, I'm very pleased.”

Asbri have been a proud title sponsor of the Asbri Welsh National PGA Championship since 2013, as Managing Director, Eryl Williams, explained: “For us as a Welsh business, it was a natural thing for us to support. All the PGA Professionals have helped us grow the business over the last 20 years, and the players have become mates of ours, so it's great for us to support The PGA, obviously foremost, but the Welsh PGA Professionals especially. It's a nice gesture for us to give something back to the guys who supported us.”

Find photos from the Championship HERE.

Find the final leaderboard from the Championship HERE.