Keen surfer Ruth makes splash at Coventry

Keen surfer James Ruth rode the crest of a wave to fire himself into contention in the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship at Coventry Golf Club.

The Devon-based assistant, who works over the county border at China Fleet Golf & Country Club in Cornwall, scorched the par fives in seven under par including two eagles to join Jack Harrison at the top of the leaderboard

Ruth’s seven under par 66 left him level-pegging with Wildwood Golf & Country Club’s Harrison who carded a second successive 68 in the £32,000 event.

“I hit the ball unbelievably today, I was five under for the front nine and you can always say you left a few out there but I also missed a couple of eight footers,” said Ruth.

“It’s not very often you play the par fives in seven under for one round.”

Ruth brings plenty of tour experience to the table having played on the European Tour and also topped the order of merit on the satellite EPD Tour.

“I’ll lean on my experience, I had a few wins on the EPD, six or seven wins on that, so hopefully I can draw on that,” he added.

Ruth has just completed his first year on the PGA training programme – a new chapter in his golf career which he is enjoying and which he credits with revitalising his game.

“I’m absolutely loving it, the club has been great to me, they are very flexible and I’ve started to coach which I really enjoy and has helped my own game too. It’s been my best year for a while, playing wise, and I think coaching has helped that.”

Alongside Ruth at ten under par for the 54-hole event is Surrey’s Harrison with Ireland’s Neil O’Briain from Old Conna Golf Club two shots adrift.

**Tom Burlinson from Galvin Green discusses the brand's sponsorship of the historic event.

For Harrison, who let a five shot lead slip going into last year’s final round, the game plan is straightforward.

“Last year I just got really defensive in the last round and changed tactics completely. It was probably the first time I was in that position in a three round tournament and I was a bit shell-shocked but this year I’m in a better place mentally.

“I feel positive, I’m just going to go out and try and shoot another five under. If I don’t, I don’t.”

O’Briain, who finished fourth 12 months ago, is also aiming to take the positives into the final round shootout having discovered a missing ingredient – fun!

“The game’s coming round, I’ve won a couple of times and I’m just trying to enjoy it a little bit more, I finally figured it out that you’ve got to enjoy yourself out here before you do anything else and that’s one of the reason’s I’m playing well as well,” he said.

One man definitely happy with his day’s work was Chorlton-cum-Hardy assistant Adam Hodkinson who had two eagles and five birdies with just a bogey on the fourth denying him a course record 64.

“To be honest I felt there was a good score out there today, but you have to go and do it,” he said.

“I felt that I took it easy and played really steady and it was nice to go out there and hit two eagles. I didn’t have a clue I’d equalled the course record though!”