Practice makes perfect for Trent Lock duo

Bunker play has been the order of the day for Ian Broadhurst and Mark Taylor as they prepare to represent Trent Lock at a national PGA final in Turkey.

Club captain Broadhurst has been taking regular lessons with PGA Professional Taylor in an attempt to eradicate his nervousness around the bunkers before they fly to Antalya Golf Club for the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge final.

And the hard work is paying off as he admitted his confidence is growing ahead of tackling the resort’s tricky PGA Sultan Course on November 26-27.

The Nottinghamshire duo qualified for the £25,000 Canopius-supported final despite the odds seemingly being stacked against them.

Taylor had just returned from a six month lay-off due to a shoulder injury – the August qualifier was just his sixth round of golf of the year.

But the duo, spurred on by Broadhurst, 48, who carded eight nett birdies, finished one shot ahead of the rest of the field, a line-up that included defending champions Kedleston Park.

Now they will progress to face a competitive field including pairings headed by two-time champion Brian Rimmer (Little Aston) and Channels pro Jason Levermore, a veteran of three BMW PGA Championships in the last four years.

“It was unbelievable, we didn’t expect to come away with the win,” Broadhurst, who works as a senior data consultant at a firm in Chesterfield, enthused.

“I really wanted to play in this event as I didn’t want to miss out on such a big opportunity in my year as captain.

“But after the injury to Mark we went to the qualifier just hoping to enjoy it and not worry too much about the result. I couldn’t believe that we managed to win.

“Mark has been great since then. I’ve been taking lessons with him to brush up on my bunker play.

“A lot of it is in your head and he’s done so much to help improve my confidence. We’ve tweaked a few things and now I’m feeling much better about it - I’m counting down the days to the final now!”

PGA Professional Taylor, above, is relishing his first chance to play in a national final since the PGA National Pro-Am Championship 15 years ago.

“It’s been a long time but hopefully I can draw some experience from that to help us through in Turkey,” he explained.

“I concentrate my career mainly on coaching and work around the club, so to have the chance to go out there and play in something like this will be incredible.”