In-form Levermore set for ultimate test

Essex golf ace Jason Levermore is hoping his run of good form can continue when he lines up for Great Britain & Ireland’s PGA Cup team against the United States at CordeValle, California from September 18-20.

The Channels head PGA pro has just triumphed in the Lombard Trophy grand final at Gleneagles and takes his place in Jon Bevan’s GB&I team as they bid to claim an historic first win on US soil.

Levermore, whose wife gave birth to their second child just six weeks ago, has a hectic month coming up with European Tour qualifying school and an appearance at the British Masters at Woburn in the pipeline but his focus is firmly on the PGA Cup.

“I’ve thought about it all the time in terms of how much I’m looking forward to it and how the good team is,” he said.

“We had a recent get together and the camaraderie is already there and hopefully we can bring the PGA Cup back home.”

The trophy the teams contest is the Llandudno Trophy which was donated to The PGA by Peter Alliss back in 1973.

America has enjoyed a vice-like grip on the trophy since the biennial event’s inception in 1973 and they will start as strong favourites when the action gets underway at CordeValle on Friday, September 18.

Levermore however sees the US favourites’ tag as very much a positive.

“Because they are so strong and because we have never won in America, they are expected to do the same again. We are not expected to over there and win – everyone wants us to but nobody expects us to.

“But if we play our own game we have every chance – and if we don’t win, it’s not the end of the world.

“If you look at our team we’ve got 10 strong players and although I know America’s players are probably more full time than ours and play a higher level, that doesn’t mean a great deal in matchplay – that’s the great thing about matchplay. I love playing against someone else and not having to worry whether you shoot 65 or 75 – just whether you win.”

Levermore will have his coach, and fellow Channels PGA pro Paul Bate, as caddy for the PGA Cup clash.

“I’ve been having lessons with Paul for about six years now and he’s caddied for me at the BMW PGA Championship so it will be great to have him out there.

“He knows me really well, and how to keep me relaxed. We chat and there are a few games we play when we’re out on the course which I can’t tell you what they are!”

Levermore also gets plenty of support from club members at Channels and relishes being head pro at the Chelmsford club.

“I’ve loved it, the members are great, they encourage me to play and it’s one of the best moves I’ve made in my career.”