George celebrates home win at Ely City

Andrew George marked his 25th year at Ely City Golf Club by sealing victory at his home course to reach the English PGA Championship Final.

But he admitted he was in a ‘no win situation’ after winning the East qualifying event when he carded a three under par round of 69 to top the leaderboard by one shot ahead of  Old Fold Manor Golf Club’s Stephen Topping, Ashton on Mersey’s Oliver Smith and Matthew Stables of Coastal Golf Academy.

They will join 14 other qualifiers from the East of England at Saunton Golf Club in Devon for the £30,000 grand final which is being held between June 27-29.

But George admitted there was some personal pride involved at the Cambridgeshire venue.

“You’re on a bit of a hiding to nothing playing on your home course, if you don’t do well people say: ‘You should do well, you play here all the time,” said George.

“And if you do well, they say:’You should do, you play here all the time!’. You can’t win.

“The members are always asking how you got on and it’s good to say: ‘Yes, I won it’. It does you good.

“But I played pretty solidly. I missed a couple of putts on the way, but it’s always nice to play well on your home course. I was one over par after three holes but I didn’t panic, I just did my own thing.

“Conditions were a bit tricky but the scoring was pretty good from a strong field.”

George said the victory was particular well timed in terms of his spell as Ely’s PGA Head Professional.

“Next month, I’ll have been here for 25 years,” he said.

“That’s quite something now. It’s a very nice club, and I started here in July, 1993.”

George understandably happy to see the return of the English PGA Championship after an eight year gap.

“It’s good to see it back and a real feather in the cap for the PGA to get that going again,” said George, who has played in the last three Senior Open Championships.

“I’ve played Saunton before but can’t remember much about it. Links golf is probably my favourite type of golf even though I’m based at a parkland course.

“But I love playing and can’t get it out of my system, I practice every day.”

For a full list of results from the English PGA Championship qualifier at Ely City Golf Club click here.

For more information about the English PGA Championship click here.