Mark clinches surprise return to Gleneagles

07/07/2015

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Cornwall amateur Mark Jones is heading for the Lombard Trophy Final at Gleneagles - just a year after watching the Ryder Cup as a fan at the same venue.

Jones, left, partnered Lanhydrock Golf Club PGA professional Alister Tawse in the regional qualifying event held at Bovey Castle Golf Club in Devon.

And they produced an impressive 10-under-par round of 60 to win by two shots ahead of the South Wales duo Paul Mayo and David Morgan, from Pontnewydd Golf Club near Cwmbran.

The Lanhydrock pairing will now play in the £80,000 final played over the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles between September 1-2.

And for Jones, it is a surprise return to the famous Scottish course,

“I was there to watch the Ryder Cup there on the Saturday and Sunday last year,” he said.

“And I can remember thinking how great it’d be to come back and play this stunning course.

“Little did I realise that I’d be back there 12 months later!

“So for me this is a fantastic prize.

“But I didn’t realise until we’d started playing that the final was at Gleneagles. The pair we were playing with told us that, so I tried not to get too nervous.”

Jones, a chiropractor from Lostwitheal who plays off a handicap of 16, only started playing golf seriously two and a half years ago.

“I played when I was younger, but I went out to see my brother in Australia and he plays,” said the 37-year-old.

“So I took him on and it rekindled my enjoyment for the game. There was a bit of brotherly rivalry there but it got me playing again.

“Now I have lessons with Alister and he’s doing a good job.”

The pair’s round included two net birdies and Tawse praised his amateur partner’s display.

“Mark’s not been playing that long, but he’s a natural, he can go on to be very good,” said Tawse who became head pro at Lanhydrock last year after a break from the game.

“I had a very steady round and we had a great front nine - but those nett eagles made all the difference.”

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