Kaye highlights Stanger as Headingley star

Headingley Golf Club’s Philip Kaye says the Leeds club’s profile has been raised by greenkeeper Andy Stanger as they prepare to host the PGA Pro-Captain Challenge, North B Qualifier.

Kaye, a former heart surgeon, is set to partner PGA Professional Oliver Hunt for the event which is being held on September 18.

They will be aiming to earn a trip to Spain for the £22,000 final, staged in association with Golfplan, which takes place between November 6-7 at Arabella Golf Mallorca.

It is the first time Headingley has staged the event and Kaye says much of that is down to the quality of the course as prepared by Stanger.

“We as a club are trying to raise our profile in the Leeds area by getting our name out there and staging more competitions, such as the North of England Girls’ Championship and, this year, the Yorkshire District Inter-League Championship,” explained Kaye.

“We’re being perceived as a club on the up. But the star in terms of the course is our greenskeeper Andy, who’s in his early 30s.

“He went on a scholarship to America and he went to the Liberty National course in New Jersey which is where the Presidents Cup was held.

“While he was out there, he went to Augusta for three months and clearly got on well in North America, if they like you, they love you and invite you back.

“On the basis of his performance there, he went to Augusta as a greenkeeper this year, I asked him how many were there from the UK this year and it was just him.

“This is a man with great talent, he has a first class honours degree in soil science and he’s progressed our course forwards. Everybody who come here will enjoy.”

Kaye, a 21-handicapper, says Headingley will put on a good show for the qualifying event.

“I can assure the players they’ll have a great day out, how myself and Oliver end up, who knows?,” said the retired 69-year-old.

“But I love my year as captain, it’s a full time job, I have all the time in the world, I have a lot of organisational skills.

“This year, I’ve been captain sunshine! It’s been an honour and privilege, I feel as though I’m giving something back. I’ve been there every day since March.”

Other teams taking part in the PGA Pro-Captain Challenge at Headingley, include: Adrian Ambler/Tony McMenamin (Low Laithes Golf Club); Bradley Rowntree/Kenneth Musgrove (Richmond Golf Club); Mark Daubney/Terry Nicholson (Wetherby Golf Club); Craig Helliwell/Alan Nelson (Ripon City Golf Club); Craig Donaldson/Martin Rumens (Middlesbrough Municipal Golf Club); and Andrew Rhodes/Keith Knight (Keighley Golf Club)

For more information on the event, click here.

For more information on the PGA Pro-Captain Challenge, click here.