Lifelong Red looking for Glenmuir success

Lifelong Liverpool supporter Mark McGeehan, right, will take inspiration from a meeting with his hero as he aims to qualify for the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship.

The Magnolia Park head PGA Professional got the chance to meet Reds’ skipper Steven Gerrard, left, at the start of April, just as the Merseyside-based football club were beginning to mount their most determined Premier League title challenge in more than 20 years.   

For 35-year-old McGeehan the meeting was timely as he looked to end his own wait for success in The PGA’s flagship tournament.

It may not have been quite the drought his football club have experienced, but after narrowly missing out on a final berth for the last two years in a row McGeehan wants to make it third time lucky in the midland regional qualifier at Little Aston on May 9.

Should he make it through the regional event, he will take on Great Britain and Ireland’s finest club professionals in the £78,700 Peugeot-supported grand final at the famous Blairgowrie on August 5-8.

“It was unbelievable to have the opportunity to meet Gerrard,” McGeehan enthused. “It will be a very happy month or so for me if I can make it through to the Glenmuir final too!

“It is a fantastic event, and I’m going into it on the back of some quite good winter form, so hopefully this time it will be my year.

“Qualification has to be the aim and I’m confident I can achieve it. Little Aston is a gem and one of my favourite courses so I’m hoping that will help me get to the performance-levels I need.”

The Glenmuir qualifier is one of a host of tournaments father-of-one McGeehan has coming up this summer, including appearances on the Europro and Jamega tours.

“I’m hoping that 2014 could be a breakthrough year for me,” he said.

“I’ve been doing a lot of work physically, mentally and also with my swing coach Andy Dunbar which I hope will have me in peak condition for the start of the year.

“I also owe a lot to my sponsors SMC, who have given me great support as I play on the tournament circuit - they will be pushing me on to help me achieve success this year too.”

Alongside playing he will also maintain commitments at club level, where he has discovered the joys of passing on his experience to younger players.

“I love coaching, and I feel that by doing well on the course I have more experiences that I can pass on to the kids at the club,” he explained.

“At the moment I feel I have a nice balance, where both the playing and the coaching complement each other quite nicely. I really enjoy both sides of my work.”

Matthew Eagle, UK and Eire sales director at Glenmuir, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our sponsorship of the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship, which is very well respected as the flagship event for PGA Professionals in Great Britain and Ireland.                                          

“Once again the schedule promises to take in a number of outstanding courses, with Blairgowrie offering a fine venue for this year’s final in August, which is sure to be as intriguing as ever.”

“We look forward to another exciting tournament, and wish all the competitors the best of luck ahead of the event.”

Other players competing in the Glenmuir midland regional qualifier include: Matthew Cort (Rothley Park), Jason Hadland (Kirton Holme), Richard Lawrence (Charnwood), Matt McGuire (Stoneleigh Deer Park), Nick Soto (Northampton), Luke Towler (Telford) and Ian Walley (Kedleston Park).