Lawrence ready to be a party pooper at Coventry

Lawrence Dodd wants to stop history being made at the Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship.

Dodd, of Suffolk’s Bury Golf Range, plays in the £32,500 final, which will be supported by FootJoy and staged at Coventry Golf Club from August 7-9.

He is aiming to improve on the 12th place finish he recorded last year at East Sussex National when Rothley Park’s Matthew Cort won the event for a second successive year.

Now Dodd hopes to make sure he does not make it a hat-trick.

“I think if you look at the players taking part then there are only a handful that you could say have a realistic chance of winning it and I’d like to think I’m among them,” he said.

“But obviously Matt Cort is going to be the favourite again, and he’s playing well.

“I know him from our time playing at European Tour School but I’d like to be able to stop history being made if possible.

“Adam Wootton of Oxford is another threat on his day as well.”

But Dodd also hopes the change of venue for the final can allow other players to make a challenge.

“Matt has won both of his titles at East Sussex National so I think it’s good that the organisers have changed it to Coventry this time,” he added.

“It’s stops people becoming too familiar with one venue and it might just open it up a little for the rest of the field.

“Realistically, I’m hopeful. I won the qualifying round at Chigwell in May so I’m looking forward to the final.”

Dodd, like all competitors in the field, is part way through the PGA training programme en route to PGA qualification which equips them with relevant skills for working in the golf industry, covering all aspects of golf including business and marketing, equipment technology and repairs, rules and tournament organisation, sports science, sports psychology and playing.

Other players from the East of England taking part at Coventry include Thomas Philips (Hadley Wood);   Darren Close  (South Beds);    Simon Brierley (South Essex Golf Centre);  Tyler Wink  (Canons Brook); Glen Portelli (Verulam); and Sarah Smith (Bourn Golf & Leisure).