Neville tees up Fourball challenge

A new club and a fresh start for Graham Neville have left him in perfect mood for a tilt at qualifying for the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship final.

The Manchester-based pro, who joined Northenden Golf Club in April, will tee up at the Woodsome Hall qualifier on June 24 alongside Marple’s Gary Brown.

It will be Neville’s first appearance in the tournament since a tumultuous campaign three years ago when he was forced to change partner after Tom Murray, who now plays on the European Tour, withdrew with a broken hand.

Neville, 32, will be hoping for better luck this time around as he and Brown seek to navigate their way into the £33,250 championship final at Carden Park on August 12-14.

The duo know each other well, having worked together for a year at Altrincham Driving Range.

“If we could make it to the final that really would be unbelievable,” he enthused.

“I’ve made a conscious effort to play more this year, especially now that I’m settled into my new job at Northenden.

“It really has been about managing my time between playing and coaching. I try to make sure that I take a few days to play and then fill the rest with time coaching at the club.

“I’m hopeful that we can do well at Woodsome Hall. Gary’s a tidy player, he’s very reliable and you know he’ll go out there and hit a lot of birdies.”

Neville was a talented cricketer up to the age of 18, making the decision to switch sports relatively late.

“Golf was a sport that I really took to and enjoyed,” he recalled.

“I enjoyed all the different aspects of the game, the fact that you could work on your short game or your driving for example. There was always more to learn.

“I decided to train as a PGA Professional and then finished sixth in the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year Awards at my graduation which is something I’m still really proud of.

“Being in golf has given me the opportunity to play in events like the final Open qualifying which was a great experience.

“And now I’m at Northenden, I’m settling in well at a club with great members and good facilities. It’s been a great move.

“I do enjoy playing in these PGA events and if we can make it to the final of this then that would be great.”

Other pairs competing in the Woodsome Hall qualifier include: Alex Boyton and Karl Worby (both Skidby Lakes), Anthony Cuppello (Pike Fold) and Paul Walker (Knott End), Simon Edwards (Windermere) and David Shacklady (Mossock Hall), and Anthony Millar (Ellesmere) and Kris Andrews (Ashton on Mersey).