International stars flock to Cornwall

04/04/2018

Ryder Cup players, European and Seniors Tour winners, as well as the leading players in last year’s West Region PGA Order of Merit, travel west this month to compete in the annual PGA Asbri Golf Cornish Festival that is always oversubscribed.

“We have never enjoyed such a prestigious field,” said regional manager Robert Moss.

“The popularity of our annual season opening tournament has never been higher and we had a waiting list of around 20 when entries closed weeks ago.”

The largest pro-am in England attracts 114 teams and more than 400 competitors who play 54 holes over three days.

The flagship PGA in England and Wales (South West) event is based as usual at the prestigious Trevose Golf and Country Club, near Padstow, and again features the classic championship St Enodoc links. Both courses have staged major national tournaments.

The cliff-top Carlyon Bay Golf Club at St Austell, attached to the upmarket Carlyon Bay Hotel, is again the third venue.

Teams of one professional and three amateurs play at each venue over the three days from April 17-19 while the reception and presentations take place at Trevose.

Two times winner Peter Baker, the defending champion from South Staffordshire, Phillip Price, who was second two years ago, and Steven Richardson (Hayling), are all Ryder Cup players.

Former PGA champion Scott Drummond from Plymouth, who claimed a sensational victory at Wentworth in 2004, Andrew Sherborne (Trevose), Gary Emerson (Remedy Oak), David Dixon (Enmore Park) and George Ryall (Worlebury) are European winners from the West.

Other successful European Tour players include Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) plus Welshmen Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) and Richard Dinsdale (Asbri Golf) who link up with Price in Asbri Golf-sponsored teams.

Former National Assistants champion Matthew Cort (Beedles Lake), Chris Gane (Lefthandedgolf.co.uk at Sundridge Golf Club), Brian Rimmer (Little Aston) and Simon Lilly (Staverton Park) are among many notable visiting players.

Jonathan Grogan, a British professional who has been based on the Germany-Swedish border for eight years, is bringing a team to Cornwall for the first time.

Previous winners James Ruth (China Fleet) and former PGA Cup player Chris Gill (Newquay), two times British Par 3 champion Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) and Richard Sadler (Newquay) will lead the local challenge from Cornwall.

Former England international and Sky TV football pundit Matt Le Tissier has been enjoying the Festival in Stoneham PGA professional Ben Johnson’s team for a numberof years.