Kent Assistant Clough hopes for edge in Farleigh final

Adam Clough is hoping he can use his victory in the PGA Assistants' Championship South qualifying event to produce a memorable display in what will be his last shot at the final.

The Pedham Place Golf Centre player finished top of the leaderboard in a huge field at Surrey’s Farleigh Golf Club.

That will also be the venue for the final and Clough hopes he can use his knowledge of the course to good effect.

Kent-based Clough bounced back from a shaky start to win the qualifier by one shot ahead of Adam Reid of Corhampton Golf Club and Matthew Chapman of Goring & Streatley Golf Club.

Clough ended the day with a five under par round of 67 and wlll join 26 other qualifiers at the £32,000, Birdietime-supported, grand final at Farleigh between July 3-5.

“It was a good win but I didn’t make the best of starts with a bogey and it took me a while to get going,” explained Swanley-based Clough.

“But what I did to was birdie the par five holes which you need to do around there. It all kicked off from there and I also got two birdies at the 15th and 16th holes.

“In previous years, you’d have to get under par just to qualify, so I knew I had to aim for that.”

Clough, who graduated from his PGA studies last month, admitted the event was always going to be tough considering the number of players taking part.

“It was good to see so many assistants playing in it, we are strong in the South so it was always going to be a competitive event and it was good to win with it being such a big field,” he added.

“I graduated last month, so this will be my last PGA Assistants' final and going back to Farleigh is good as it’s a course I know well by now.

“Playing the qualifier here should provide an edge and I hope I can make it count for the final.

“I made the cut in the Assistants’ final at Little Aston two years ago. And I’m hoping for a much better finish this year. But now I plan to play full-time next year, cut down on my teaching and concentrate on that side of things.

“This is a good platform for me so hopefully I can play well this year.”