Switch pays off for Davies as he lines up final debut

Greg Davies is feeling the benefit of changing clubs after winning the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship West qualifier.

The final year assistant moved to South Cerney Golf Course in Cirencester last February - and it gave him more time to play golf.

And the result was that he qualified for his first PGA Assistants’ final, with the £32,000 final which being held at Coxmoor Golf club in Nottinghamshire between August 2-4.

Davies recorded a two under par round of 68 at Bristol & Clifton Golf Club to finish two shots ahead of Tom Hanson (Tiverton Golf Club) and Don Narramore ( Dorset Golf & Country Club)

“I’ve never qualified for the final before so I’m delighted to finally make it before I become a fully qualified professional,” said Davies.

“I came to South Cerney earlier this year with a view to my long term future in golf.

“And the reason I went there is that I wanted to have more playing time. Being there allows me that and now I’m really looking forward to the final.

“It’ll be my first three-day tournament and a real test for me.

"I’ve never played at Coxmoor before so I intend to go up there and have a look at the course.”

Davies says he took the PGA course to get the best of both worlds - coaching and playing.

‘“I like teaching, my mum’s a PE teacher as is my brother. So helping people out with their game is something I’ve always enjoyed.

“But I want to play as well so being at South Cerney gives me that balance. I wanted a combination of both and the PGA course gives me that.”

But Davies admitted his round at Bristol & Clifton could have been even more convincing.

“The front nine was good, but I had a couple of bogeys on the way back on, it was all about qualifying though,” he said.

“I managed to scrape the first few holes and I was okay after that, but I lost it coming down the home stretch which was frustrating.”