Green says Staysure Event is so 'Andy for Senior Players

Stamford Golf Club amateur Andy Green says the arrival of the Staysure Trophy competition this year offers a different challenge to senior amateur golfers.

Oldham-based Green is set to line up with PGA professional Mark Smith at Manchester Golf Club on July 12 for the North qualifying event.

Both will be aiming to reach the grand final which is being held from July 31 to August 1 at the London Golf Club near Sevenoaks, Kent.

The pro-am competition, which features senior amateur players and is sponsored by Staysure, the insurance specialists for over 50s, has been launched by the PGA this year and carries a £30,000 prize fund.

And for 53-year-old Green, who plays off a handicap of 11 after being on 14 at the start of the year, golf has taken the place of cricket.

“I started playing golf when I was about 16 but then I played cricket in the summer,” he said.

“But I stopped playing cricket three years ago and took up golf again.

“It was always my intention to take up golf again and concentrate on that once I’d stopped playing cricket.

“This competition is just a bit different isn’t it, it’s a chance to play with your club professional, not everybody gets to do it and it’ll be real change for me and we’re meeting people.

“And I know the course, it’s relatively local to where we are but it’s been a few years since I played it, I’m looking forward to the event.”

Green hopes that he can help Smith, head professional of the Stalybridge club, to impress on the day.

“I’ve not played with him before, I’ve had a couple of lessons off him and know him well, he’s a very good young pro,” added Green, who has an engineering company.

Other teams due to play at Manchester Golf Club include: Gary Watson and Mark Bailiff  (Keswick Golf Club);  Adam Powell and Alan Kevin (Hartford Golf Club);  Garry Houston and Robin MacLoskey (Carden Park Golf Resort);  Craig Daggitt and Ian Fenson (Bramhall Park Golf Club); and David Smith sand Simon Cusick (Swinton Park).

For more information on the event at Manchester Golf Club, click here.