Kenny puts injury woes behind him at Saffron Walden

Old Fold Manor Golf Club amateur Vic Kenny shrugged off a leg injury to seal his place in the final of the Staysure Trophy.

The 57-year-old partnered PGA Professional Glen Portelli to win the East qualifier held at Saffron Walden Golf Club in Essex.

They returned a 44-point round to seal their place in the final along with Rodney Holt and Matt Bishop of Silverstone Golf Club,

Both teams now go to the final which will be staged from July 31 to August 1 at the London Golf Club near Sevenoaks, Kent.

The pro-am competition sponsored by Staysure, the insurance specialists for over 50s, has been launched by the PGA this year and carries a £30,000 prize fund.

But 13-handicapper Kenny, who is a partner in an air conditioning and ventilation company, admitted he almost did not compete - and said it was Portelli’s words of encouragement that got the Enfield-based player through.

“I was playing golf in Turkey with some friends and I twisted my calf, I couldn’t walk and had to ice it up to ease the pain,” he said.

“But I knew the Staysure event was coming up and I wanted to play in it.

“I told Glen and he told me not to worry about it and it’d be fine.

“I was a bit dubious, I said I might have the odd dodgy shot, I got the three wood out and he told me we were playing aggressively and to change it for a driver. After that, I was at ease, I had a few stings but I forgot about it and played pretty well.

“Glen made me feel really positive about it, it was the first time I’d played with him and afterwards he said: ‘I don’t know what you were worried about’.

“I really enjoyed it and I was still feeling happy a day later after we’d won! It was such a great day. I really wanted to get into the event when I played the qualifier. And what a great ending to the day to get into the final.”

Portelli welcomed the introduction of the Staysure Trophy as a competition to give senior amateurs another event to play.

“Vic loved the whole day and he was very happy to win,” he said.

“I can only see this event getting as big as the National Pro-Am Championship next year, you never know. It’s difficult when it’s a new event.

“It’s a great idea and mixing it in with the Senior PGA Championship at the London Club in the same week is good for senior golf.”

For a full set of results from the Staysure PGA Trophy East qualifier at Saffron Walden Golf Club click here.