Allen finds ideal Skipper to clinch final place
15/06/2015
Eaton Golf Club’s Mark Allen (left) sealed a place in the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship despite being forced into a last minute change of partner.
The Norwich professional had intended to play the East qualifying event, at Bush Hill Park Golf Club in Middlesex, with Sam Cubitt of Dunston Hall Golf Club.
But Cubitt is currently recovering from a bout of pneumonia and could not play.
That meant Allen calling in Eaton assistant Michael Skipper as a late stand in, but the pair gelled well to finish as part of a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard.
Joining Allen and Skipper were Mitchell Kierstenson (Penfold Park Golf Course) and Russell Hurd (Essendon Country Club) and Michael Moore (Pinner Hill Golf Club) and James Jankowski - who were 14th in last year’s final - who carded eight-under-par rounds of 62.
They pipped Noel Quinn (Whipsnade Park Golf Club) and Christopher Forsyth (Topgolf Academy) by one shot in a tight contest.
They will join eight other qualifiers at the £35,000 SkyCaddie & BMW supported grand final at Carden Park in Cheshire between August 12-14.
“Sam contacted me on Saturday to say he wouldn’t be able to play,” explained Allen.
“So I asked Michael if he was up for playing and he agreed. We played well and qualified.
“It’s my first final but Michael is already playing in the PGA Assistants’ final at Coventry this summer so this is turning out to be a good year for him.”
Allen confirmed that he will play with Skipper at Carden Park.
“Actually, Sam was straight on the phone at the end as he’d been following the event online,” added Allen.
“He congratulated us and joked ‘I suppose I’m dropped now!’
‘But we’re really looking forward to playing in the final. We had to get up at 5am to make it down for an early start so we’re glad we were able to avoid the play-offs.”
The event went on into the evening at the Middlesex venue with eight teams playing off for the final four remaining spots.
That extended the day’s play by more than two hours and only three shots separated the 12 qualifiers in the end.
Both Allen and Skipper and Kierstenson and Hurd finished strongly with six birdies on the back nine.
