Late Ryder Cup stalwart focus of Foxhills showpiece

The late great Ryder Cup captain and player Bernard Hunt will be remembered at Foxhills Resort this week when leading PGA professionals compete for a trophy named in his honour.

Leading club golfers from across the UK are contesting the Senior PGA Professional Championship at the Surrey resort from May 14-16.

It will be the first time the 54-hole event has been staged at Foxhills and in tribute to Hunt, who enjoyed a long association with the club, The PGA has renamed the silverware with the winner set to lift the Bernard Hunt Memorial Trophy.

Foxhills owner Marc Hayton said: “This year’s Senior PGA Professional Championship is a fitting tribute to the late Bernard Hunt MBE.

“He was a gentleman, wonderful player and teacher and a dear friend to the club.

“Foxhills is proud to host this event and wish The PGA and each player a fantastic tournament.”

The event is one of the most popular PGA tournaments and has attracted a record 195 entries. They will compete for a share of the £38,000 prize fund including a winner’s cheque for £5,250.

PGA head of tournaments Simon Higginbottom added: “Foxhills is a fantastic venue for the tournament and has enabled us to expand the field thanks to its two superb courses.

“It was also an opportunity to honour the memory of one of The PGA’s most illustrious members who twice captained Ryder Cup teams and The PGA.

”We’re looking forward to a fantastic week of golf and would encourage any local golf fans in Surrey to come along and enjoy see some excellent golf.”

An added incentive for the field is to qualify in the top 20 and earn a place against the cream of European seniors’ golf in the 2014 ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship at Stoke by Nayland from June 5-8 where past Ryder Cup captains Sam Torrance and Mark James are playing.