Sports fanatic Craven one step from Gleneagles

An account manager at a Reading-based engineering firm is plotting a dream return to Gleneagles just days before the Ryder Cup visits the Perthshire venue.

Richard Craven, 24, last played at the world-famous venue while competing for Buckinghamshire New University during his studies at the High Wycombe institution in 2010.

And after a terrific display in the Lombard Trophy club qualifying round at Caversham Heath, the sports studies graduate is only one step away from walking out onto the fairways of the King’s Course once again.

One-handicapper Craven will tee off alongside his PGA Professional Matt Collis, above, for the regional final of Europe’s largest golf pro-am at Camberley Heath on July 1.

The tournament, which carries a total prize fund of £80,000, has a total of 16 regional finals, with the winner of each event progressing to play in the final at Gleneagles on September 2-3.

And Craven remains confident that he and ex-Camberley Heath pro Collis have every chance of securing a dream trip to Scotland.

“I’ve never played Camberley Heath before, but Matt used to be the pro there and so he should be able to help guide me around,” he explained.

“I’ve only recently joined the club so I haven’t seen him play too much, but I hear a lot about how good he is. We get on really well so hopefully we’ll stand every chance of making it through.

“Getting to Gleneagles would be amazing – I played there once before, over both courses, and it was absolutely brilliant.

“That was in the middle of winter when you wouldn’t necessarily expect the course to be at its best, so I imagine it would be incredible this time!”

Craven, who is also a keen football player, is now working on improving his handicap over the course of the golf season.

“Within the next year I’d like to get back to playing off scratch,” he said.

“I always want to improve and play at a better level. I wouldn’t say I’m one of those people that wants to be a golf pro but it’s nice to go along to the club and notice that improvement in your game.

“When I was younger I probably focused more on football than golf, but nowadays that has changed and golf has taken over as my main sport and the one that I spend most time on.

“I grew up in Leeds and my dad was a big golfer, he was really keen to get me into it and even though I live so far away now I still enjoy playing golf with him when I go back.

“I really enjoy going down and spending time at the club on a weekend - and anyway, I’m nearly at retirement age for a footballer!”

Other pairings competing in the Camberley Heath qualifier include: Steve Speller and Jeremy Webb (a) (Camberley Heath), Nico Els and Piers Forrest (a) (Clandon Regis), Peter Parks and Jason Gledhill-Carr (a) (Hever Castle), and Wraith Grant and Fergus Gage (a) (Woodcote Park).