Surrey side up – holders qualify for SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge final

21/08/2020

Surrey Downs Golf Club is back on the trophy trail after its professional and captain booked their place in the final of the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge.

Craig Cowper, the head PGA Professional, in tandem with club captain Peter Crowe won the competition at Argentario Golf and Spa, Italy, last October.

Now Cowper (above) and Crowe’s successor, Wally O’Rouke, will attempt to repeat the achievement at four-time Ryder Cup venue The Belfry in October after qualifying for the final at Royal Ascot Golf Club.

Their success in the first of seven regional qualifiers was a close-run thing, however.

Having amassed 41 Stableford points to finish level with the duos from Hockley and Northants County Golf Clubs, the pair prevailed on countback as a result of points gained on the back nine.

By contrast, with two teams going through from each qualifier, no calculators were needed to determine who would accompany them in the final which carries a £22,000 prize fund.

Westerham Golf Club’s PGA pro Frazer Amey and his club captain Peter Sollis racked up 42 points at the Berkshire venue to head the 36-strong field.

Nevertheless the pair from the Kent club were indebted to a birdie from Amey at the par-five 18^th to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

They and the duo from Surrey Downs will now contest the final of the popular competition over two rounds at The Belfry on October 13 and 14.

The first will be played on the resort’s PGA National course, the second on the Brabazon, the stage made famous by the exploits of Seve Ballesteros, Christy O’Connor Junior, Sam Torrance, and Paul McGinley in the Ryder Cup.

As in each of the seven qualifiers, the players will be offered free use of a SkyCaddie SX400 that will come loaded with the day’s pins.

Full scores can be accessed here