Morgan back on track after lay-off

Morgan Kennedy is giving golf a second chance as he prepares for the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship final at Little Aston.

Kennedy gave up the game when he was 18 after dislocating his shoulder while skiing.

That put him out of golf for around four years but Kennedy, 26, of Burhill Golf Club in Walton on Thames, decided to take the route of gaining a PGA qualification.

Now he is a second year assistant and aiming for an impressive finish in the showpiece event which is behind held at the Birmingham venue from August 3-5.

“I couldn’t play after the accident, it didn’t feel comfortable and I gave up the game,” said Kennedy.

“But I did miss it. I didn’t really pursue another career and moved around for a while and went to Australia. But then I ended up working at the Celtic Manor course in Wales.”

The lure of the game proved too much to resist for Kennedy who has started all over again.

“I decided I want to return to golf and took the PGA route. I enjoy playing but this gives me the chance to get a coaching qualification as well. So it’s turned out well,” he said.

Kennedy is following in the footsteps of Tom Gamble who represented Burhill in last year’s final at Coventry Golf Club.

Gamble turned in a top eight finish and Kennedy admits he would be delighted if he could match that.

“Tom did really well last year, it’s good that players from this club can go to a final like that and play well,” added Kennedy.

“I played at Little Aston once before as an amateur but I don’t remember too much about the course so I’ll take a good look at it again before the final.”

In a unique twist, sponsors Galvin Green plan to provide the two overnight leaders in the 54-hole event with a distinctive MAPPING Ventil8™ shirt to denote who set the pace on the first day (Imperial blue) and during the penultimate round (Electric red).

In addition, the champion will be rewarded with the profile of an official Galvin Green Tour player for the year, plus a complete golfing wardrobe selected during a visit to the brand’s UK showroom.

The tournament prize fund of £32,000 includes a first prize of £5,000 and entry into the end of season PGA Play Offs where they have a chance at qualifying for the 2017 BMW PGA Championship. The winner also gets a place in the Australian PGA Futures Championship.

Other assistants from the South of England due to play at Little Aston include:  Richard Neil-Jones  (Hilden Park Golf Centre); Michael Day  (Bletchingley Golf Club);  Damien Woodward  (Abbey Hill Golf Centre): Robert Daw  (Effingham Golf Club); Chris Jess  (East Sussex National Golf Club); Kyle Potter  East Berkshire Golf Club; Shannon Flynn Hanly (Silvermere Golf Club); Lewis Bird (Calcot Park Golf Club); Kevin O'Connell  (Purley Downs Golf Club) and Joseph Queen (West Sussex Golf Club).