Marks stamps his authority at Foxhills
14/05/2014
** More images from day one here
Gary Marks made light of an enforced three month lay-off with a wrist injury to seize the lead in the Senior PGA Professional Championship at Foxhills Resort in Surrey.
The World of Golf coach, who hails from Surrey, only returned to competitive action 24 hours ago at a regional pro-am but was quickly into his stride on the Bernard Hunt course rattling off four birdies in his opening nine holes.
He eventually signed for a three-under-par 70 to lead the £38,000 tournament by a stroke from Albert MacKenzie (Saunton) and Kenny Hutton (Downfield).
It might have been even better for Marks who was expecting to add another birdie at the 507-yard par five 14th only to notch up a bogey which halted his momentum and he dropped another shot on the 16th.
But the 50 year, who gained a conditional card at European Senior Tour qualifying school, declared himself satisfied with his day’s work and is revelling in the opportunity seniors’ golf is giving him.
“It’s very pleasing with so little golf in the last few months to compete straight away,” said Marks who won the inaugural PGA Play-Offs back in 2006.
“I’m obviously not going to be at my sharpest having not been able to play and compete as much as I’d like but I’m thinking about winning not just finishing in the top 20.
“I feel fairly confident, although in golf you can never be too confident but I’m nicely confident and will be attacking and we’ll see what comes off.
“I’ve just turned 50, and like a lot of golfers we all get excited in our late 40s because this is a second chance and you don’t get many second chances at a career. And they are all fierce competitors, relatively fit and it is no different to young golfers - we’re just a bit older.”
Hutton meanwhile carved out his score on the Longcross course and was within a whisker of an ace at the 177-yard par three 11th when his ball lipped out.
His target is a top 20 finish to qualify for the ISPS Handa PGA Championship at Stoke by Nayland next month but knows he can’t rest on his laurels having made such a good start.
“I played well in both practice rounds so was quite looking forward to today, both courses seem to suit my eye although I didn’t play the par fives well but the fours and threes I played well, my irons were really good,” he said.
“Both courses take no prisoners, you’ve got to drive it good. If you are off line you could rack up some big numbers. Some players had some big scores, that doesn’t mean they’ve played badly, it just means the course has got them.”
Meanwhile a pep talk with fellow pro Andrew Hall gave Saunton pro MacKenzie (below) a timely confidence boost as he surged into contention.
“I had dinner with my good friend Andrew Hall last night and he gave me a lot of belief and just told me to enjoy my ability and sometimes maybe I don’t think I can play as well as I sometimes do,” said the Scot.
“I feel very good mentally this week and am looking forward to next two days.
“I got off to a good start and holed some nice putts in the first four holes and that really was the foundation for the round. The best shot I hit was a four iron into six feet on 16 and I was just glad to hit some good tee shots at the end and really I’m absolutely thrilled to get round the Bernard Hunt course with a red number.
“And having done that today I just have to believe in me a little bit more about what I can do. And rather than just settle for being up there, have some steel in the mind this week and see if we can see the job through.”
The tournament is being staged for the first time at Foxhills which was the long time base for two-time Ryder Cup captain Bernard Hunt and in his memory the trophy has been renamed the Bernard Hunt Memorial Trophy.
