Tyneside talent set for toughest test

• Richard Robson-Crosby set to step up for first appearance in Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship
• He has played in the PGA Assistants' Championship for the last three years, making the final twice
• Dad Alan will be rooting for the newly-qualified PGA Professional. He's the head professional at Ponteland Golf Club where Robson-Crosby is based

A Newcastle PGA Professional who has represented his club since childhood is set for one of the biggest challenges of his playing career so far.

Richard Robson-Crosby, of Ponteland Golf Club, will play in the Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship regional qualifier at Fulford on April 23.

The 23-year-old, who has dreams of eventually playing on the European Tour, is eligible for this event for the first time, having graduated from The PGA’s foundation degree programme and secured his status as a qualified PGA Professional.

A total prize fund of £91,500 will be at stake at the final, which will take place at Burnham and Berrow, Somerset, on June 2-5. The winner will also secure the use of a Peugeot car for 12 months.

There are also six places for the PGA Cup team up for grabs. The biennial matchplay competition, the club pros’ version of the Ryder Cup, will see a team from Great Britain and Ireland take on the United States at CordeValle in California this September.

But Robson-Crosby is keeping a level-head as he approaches the start of the new season.

“I expect this to be a very different challenge to anything I’ve played in before,” he explained.

“The last few years I played in the PGA Assistants’ Championship at East Sussex and Coventry and most of the field were of a similar age.

“But this one’s going to have a lot of very experienced golfers who have achieved a lot so it’ll be a real challenge.”

Robson-Crosby, who can count a 2009 victory at the St Andrews Boys’ Open among his amateur career highlights, will have one particularly keen onlooker when he takes to the course later this month.

His father Alan nurtured his interest in golf from a young age and, as head professional at Ponteland, is his boss.

“My dad’s been great,” Robson-Crosby enthused. “He has given me so much advice and has helped me to keep my confidence up.

“It’s great to now be working with him at the club.”

Matthew Johnson, Titleist brand director, said: “We are really excited to be sponsoring a tournament that sits at the pinnacle of The PGA schedule, providing PGA Professionals with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills at the highest level.

“This year marks the first in a new four year partnership between Titleist and The PGA. It is a relationship we are proud to expand in order to help serious golfers of all abilities, from competitive club-based professionals to club golfers, shoot their best scores.

“We look forward to meeting competitors at the regional qualifiers and the final at the magnificent Burnham and Berrow in June and wish everyone taking part the very best of luck.”

Other players competing at the Fulford regional final include: Alex Boyton (Skidby Lakes), Adam Durie (Woodsome Hall), Nicholas Houlden (Sand Moor), Fraser Kelley (Scarborough North Cliff) and Stephen McNally (Sunderland).