Royal return for Welsh PGA National

Pictured left to right: Asbri Golf sales and marketing director Paul Williams, PGA Captain Neil Selwyn-Smith and Asbri Golf managing director Eryl Williams in front of Harlech Castle.

Lee Rooke will have the chance to defend his title on home turf again after it was confirmed Royal St David’s will again stage the Welsh National PGA Championship in 2014.

The famed north Wales links, which hosted the Asbri Golf sponsored tournament last month where Rooke defeated Jon Bevan in a play-off to claim the historic event, will take place at the height of summer from July 9 to 10.

Rooke has close ties to the Harlech club where he is attached and is also coached by the head professional, Gareth Lewis.

Caerphilly-based Asbri Golf, which specialises in logo and bespoke golf accessories, is one of Wales’ brightest business success stories of the past decade as it now exports to 25 countries across the world since it was launched by designer Eryl Williams.

Paul Williams, Asbri Golf’s sales and marketing director, reflecting on its support of the tournament, commented: “We are delighted to be returning to Royal St David’s, one of Wales’ finest links courses, and showing our commitment to Welsh golf and supporting the PGA Professionals who are the bedrock of our business.

“We look forward to seeing Lee return to defend the title he won so brilliantly last month.”

Host pro Lewis added: “A massive thanks must go to Asbri, the PGA and the club for hosting this prestigious event. We had great feedback from the players. At that time of year (October) there is nowhere better and now we get the chance to show it off in July when it is at its best.

“We are also having a few changes to the course, the most notable on the 17th which is having  a bit of a redesign from 150 yards in which will make an already good hole even better.”

Lewis added: “I couldn’t play in this year’s event because it clashed with my sister’s wedding so Lee winning was the best result I could have wished for. I began working with him 18 months ago on his putting, he liked what I did and last year we starting working on his full swing.

“It’s been quite a few months because I also coach Ann Lewis who won the Senior Ladies British Open at Royal Portrush.”

Rooke’s victory, the biggest of his career, also earned him a place alongside Bevan (Rhos on Sea) and Stuart Runcie (Abergele) to represent Wales in the PGAs of Europe International Team Championship at the Onyria Palmares Beach and Golf Resort in Portugal in December.