Place aims to show he is the Daddy at Carden Park

Andrew Place admitted the birth of his new daughter came at just the right time as he prepares to take part in the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship final.

Place, of Plymouth’s Staddon Heights Golf Club, will partner Jon Rattenbury (Okehampton Golf Club) for the £35,000 Skycaddie & BMW supported event to be held between August 12-14 at Carden Park Golf Club.

The pair - both assistant professionals at their respective clubs - will be playing on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at the Cheshire venue.

But Place, aged 27, admitted his chances of playing in the event could have been jeopardised as his partner was expecting a child. However, the new arrival came early.

“That meant I could definitely play in the final,” he said. “Had the birth been late then I would’ve had to stay behind.

“But as it was, she arrived early in July so myself and Jon can now go to Carden Park. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Place hopes he can carry on the form he and Rattenbury showed in the qualifying event when they came third with a round of 65.

“That was probably the best round I’ve ever played and I made five birdies and an eagle,” he said.

We’ve gelled together well considering we haven’t been playing together that long.

“We got to know each other as the head professionals of our respective clubs know each other well.

Place admits Carden Park will be a different proposition to his own club which is a cliff top course.

“Staddon Heights is a spectacular place to play golf, there are some great views to be had,” he said.

“But I can’t see Carden Park being very open, I think it’ll be very tight.”

Other teams from the West of England taking part at Carden Park include: James Ruth (China Fleet Golf & Country Club) and Grant Slater (Trevose Golf & Country Club); Roderick Hibbitt (Cotswold Edge Golf Club) and Chris Murphy (Raglan Parc Golf Club); James Maxwell (Teign Valley Golf Club) and Christian Vine (Woodbury Park Hotel & Golf Club); and Graham Laing (North Wilts Golf Club) and Simon Swales (Radyr Golf Club).