Hendriksen braced for title defence

Paul Hendriksen admits he has the taste for more success as he prepares to defend his Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship title.

The Devon ace, from Ivybridge Golf Club, won the event by one shot last year at the Burnham & Berrow links course.

It was a victory that earned him a debut spot in the Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team that beat the USA in California.

Now Hendriksen returns to the £78,000 showpiece final which takes place at The Oxfordshire between July 26-29 and says last year’s triumph has left him wanting to build on what he achieved.

“It was a great year, winning the PGA Pro’s and then going on to the PGA Cup was a great experience,” he said.

“Obviously there’s no PGA Cup this year but there are points available and I’d like to emulate that at The Oxfordshire.

“When you play in something like the PGA Cup it leaves you wanting more and I’d like to make the next squad if possible. There was a great team spirit among all the team last year, everybody got on well with each other and it’s clearly something I would like to repeat.”

The final line up will also include Hendriksen’s PGA Cup team-mate Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) while PGA Cup captain Jon Bevan (Sherborne Golf Club) and vice captain Martyn Thompson (Parkstone) are also in the 144 strong field.

Hendriksen feels he has kept the momentum going heading into The Oxfordshire final with some good results in the PGA in England (South West) schedule under his name.

“I’m leading the West Order of Merit and topping the money list, I want to make the end of season play-offs, so I’d like to think I’m taking some good form into the final,” he added.

He accepts that this year’s American-style venue will be very different from Burnham, but he says he has no major concerns.

“I’m looking forward to it, I did play it once but it was a long time ago and I don’t really remember what it was like,” he said.

“But I’ve heard good things and I don’t feel it’s a course where I would struggle too much. It’s difficult to say until you actually get there.”

There is plenty to play for with the winner taking home a £10,000 first prize and the keys to a Peugeot 308 GT Line Blue HDi 120 for a year while there are also qualification points towards the 2017 Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team.

Other players from the West of England heading for The Oxfordshire include:  Giuseppe Licata (Chipping Sodbury Golf Club); Barry Forster  (North Wilts Golf Club); James Pickard  Honiton Golf Club; and Nicky Maddison (Saunton Golf Club).