Nessling hits the ground running in PGA Cup bid

Paul Nessling is ready to use his past performances in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship final to boost his PGA Cup hopes.

The Cooden Beach Golf Club professional has been prominent in the last two showpiece events - finishing 11th at The Oxfordshire in 2016 and 25th last year at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland.

Now he will be hoping to book his place in this year’s event when he tees off in the South A qualifier at The Lambourne Club on Thursday, May 3.

The East Sussex professional will be aiming to secure a spot in the £78,000 final which will be staged at Little Aston Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield between July 24-27.

“Two years ago I was leading going into the final round at The Oxfordshire but David Higgins totally destroyed me on the last day,” he said.

“He played very well and it was a big learning experience for me.

“But my target is definitely to try and get into that PGA Cup team, especially as the 2019 event will be in the USA. That’d be great.”

Nessling has hit the domestic season running after much of the winter travelling abroad in search of warmer climes.

“I’ve been playing at Pinehurst and Arizona, then I’ve been doing a lot of coaching in Europe,” he said.

“It’s certainly got me away from the cold weather at home. I’d made my plans, I do as many coaching trips as I can possibly do, taking the members away and things like that.

“I feel okay, the golf I’ve played so far hasn’t been too bad, it can be difficult this time of year as the courses aren’t always ready.

“But I’m looking forward to playing at Lambourne, I won the qualifier there a couple of years ago so I know the course.”