Pickard plans to aim high at Tiverton
24/06/2015
Honiton Golf Club PGA Professional James Pickard has his sights set on a top final place in this year’s Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship final if he qualifies from the West qualifying event.
Pickard will partner Clifton Hill’s Steven Buzza at Tiverton Golf Club on June 30 where they will be looking to seal a place in the £35,000 SkyCaddie & BMW supported grand final at Carden Park in Cheshire between August 12-14.
Pickard hopes he can make it through again after finishing joint 16th in last year’s final at St Mellion with Exeter Golf & Country Club’s Ben Martin.
But Pickard is having to go into this year’s event with a new combination.
“Ben had other commitments and can’t play in the qualifying event this time,” explained Pickard.
“So I’ll be playing with Steven, that’s good because we’ve all come up through the Assistants’ ranks in the West and now we’re fully qualified professionals.
“But there’s a lot of talent coming through in the region too at the moment so it’s a good place to be based.”
Pickard knows it will be hard to qualify for the final again - but hopes the Devon venue works to his advantage.
“I want to get to Carden Park because I had a top 16 finish last year and it’d be nice to try and improve on that,” he said.
“Myself and Ben finished on level-par over the four rounds but this time I’d like to get into the top 10 if I’m there.
“I think myself and Steven have a fighting chance because we’re familiar with the course at Tiverton, it’s a place we know well.
“But there’s going to be a lot of competition with the Welsh players coming into it - they have some experienced players taking part. I think it’s going to be good contest.”
Grant Slater of Trevose Golf Club, who finished ninth in last year’s final, will also playing alongside James Ruth (China Fleet Golf & Country Club).
Also taking part at Tiverton will be: Brian Lee and Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Club/Asbri Golf); Toby Hunt and Tom Benjamin (St Mellons Golf Club); Matthew Owen (Brynhill Golf Club) and James Honey (American Golf Swansea); and Paul Gravell and Mark Brooke (Players Golf Club).
