Newman and Ferguson share honours at Honiton

Ben Newman sealed his second successive Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship final appearance after finishing joint top of the leaderboard at Honiton Golf Club.

Newman admitted he was penniless just a few years ago before deciding to take the PGA course as an assistant professional at Wiltshire’s Ogbourne Downs Golf
Club.

But he shared the honours at the West qualifer with Joe Ferguson, of the Celtic Manor Resort, at the Devon venue.

Both finished with a three-under-par round of 66 to pip Elliott Harding (Milford Haven) by two shots.

Now they - along with 11 other qualifiers from the event including St Enodoc's Katie Rule - will tee off in the £32,500 final, supported by FootJoy, which will be held on August 7-9 at Coventry Golf Club.

But final year assistant Newman admitted the PGA course kept him in golf when things were not going so well.

He explained: “I went out to play in Spain, but I couldn’t make a living and came back to England penniless.

“But I got lucky at was given a job at Ogbourne Downs where I’d been playing since I was nine.

“I did the PGA course and now I have that qualification behind me. I wish I’d done it at 18 now - but I’m 24 and still want a playing career.

“Some people I know from before haven’t done it and will have a decision to make in a couple of years.”

Newman admitted his round at Honiton was made easier by a birdie followed by an
eagle at the 13th and 14th holes.

He said: “Once I’d got those I just had to make sure I qualified for the final.

“I missed the cut last year so I want to do better this time.”