Swing change helps Harper join West greats

Kevin Harper achieved his first Order of Merit win when he joined the impressive list of West Region PGA champions at Chipping Sodbury.

The East Devon touring player, 32, admitted that he had finally shaken off the bridesmaid tag after a succession of near misses in the past.

And he revealed that a change to his swing has contributed to a resurgence of form this season.

He said: “During my 14 years as an amateur at East Devon and my time at Sidmouth where I took my PGA exams I always hit the ball from right to left. Even though I had a lot of success I was always trying to improve so started to experiment with a fade. But it didn’t work out and now I have reverted to a draw and it is paying off.”

Harper, who won the Europro Tour Order of Merit the year he turned professional in 2006, started the second round two shots behind defending champion David Dixon (Enmore Park) but leapt into the lead with four birdies in a front nine of 32.

Dixon dropped two early shots and could only return one-over 73. So Harper’s four-under 68 for a total of six-under 138 in horrendous conditions of solid rain and wind in contrast to the first day was enough.

“I was in complete control today and everything I tried worked,” he said. “The conditions deteriorated during the day and the wind kicked up to make a two-club difference over the back nine,” he said.

Like the PGA officials, he paid tribute to the green staff who spent the last hour squeegeeing the final six greens to ensure a finish. “They did brilliantly,” he said.

His most serious challenge came from Toby Hunt, 22, the St Mellons player who shrugged off a recurring back injury to follow 69 with 70 and not only finish runner-up but also retain the Turier Scales Assistants Championship.

After his biggest pay-day of £1,700 he said: “I’ve had back problems for a year and took last month off as I signed up for 48 sessions with a chiropractor. Fortunately I was able to swing and it’s getting better.

“I only made one bogey today and that pleased me more than anything in those conditions.”

Cheltenham’s Russ Berry (Professional Golf Europe) is another of the West’s nearly men. He battled to 69 and solo third place. “I hung on for dear life at times as the rain became heavier over the back nine,” he said. “It was not easy putting on greens that were being squeegeed.

But I made only one bogey in two days and surely my time will come as I’ve been second seven times.”

England Ashley Mansell (Clevedon) and James Ruth (China Fleet), joint runners-up in the Assistants, shared fourth with Dixon and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) whose 68 equalled Harper’s best round of the day.

Former OOM winner Barry Austin (Downes Crediton) was a serious challenger after playing the opening 12 holes in four-under to stand at six-under alongside Harper.  But the conditions were too tough and he dropped four shots over the closing six holes to take eighth on 142.

Tracy Loveys (Bigbury), who won the Titleist & FootJoy Women's PGA Professional Championship for the fourth time this year, proved once more she is among the elite in women’s PGA golf.

She retained her West title by five shots from Jamie-Lee Casling (Cotswold Hills) with former England hockey star Chloe Rogers (Celtic Manor) third.

She said: “I am very proud to win both the national title and defend my West Region championship to complete the double this season. It is very special as I don’t get much time to play and practice.”

Seniors champion Kelvin Aitken (Chippenham Golf Range) was the third player to retain his crown with two rounds of 74 to beat Gary Emerson (Remedy Oak) by one shot with Peter Garratt (Naunton Downs) third.

He said: “I took a couple of weeks off to practice as I don’t play often although Ross McCance and I represented the range in the  PGA Fourball Championship at Carden Park and came second after leading on the first day.”