Wallace rolls back the years

Jack Wallace hopes a return to his golfing home will boost his chances in this year’s Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship.

Wallace has re-joined Thurlestone Golf Club in Devon - which is where he first learned the game as four-year-old.

And he will represent the club in the west qualifying event for the FootJoy-supported tournament at Honiton Golf Club on May 16.

The 22-year-old, formerly with Staddon Heights Golf Club, will be trying to seal a place in the £32,000 final which will be held on August 7-9 at Coventry Golf Club.

Wallace missed the cut on last year’s final at East Sussex National but believes moving clubs has helped his game.

“Moving back to Thurlestone has been a bit like coming home for me,” he said.

“I first started out there when I was four, coming down with my dad. Then I started playing through the junior ranks and I won the club championship three years in a row.

“I was lucky enough to get a job here recently and I think it’s going to be a good move for me, particularly with the ties I have here.

“I’m very excited about it and I’d like to think I can have a long association with the club.”

Wallace knows he could have done better in last year’s Assistants’ final - but says he will not be short of support if he can get back there this year.

“I’ve got family in the Midlands on my mum’s side so that’ll be good for me,” he added.

“I wasn’t 100 per cent for last year’s event but since moving back to Thurlestone I can feel my game’s getting better so I hope it improves as the year goes on.”

Among those also taking part at Honiton are James Pickard (Honiton), Cennydd Mills (Tredegar Park),   Fern Grimshaw (Wessex Golf Centre), Joe Ferguson (Celtic Manor Resort), Andrew McGeevy (Bristol & Clifton) and Daniel Lee (Rushmore).