Walton’s keeping it in the family

The son of a former Ryder Cup player is looking to ignite his own playing career with success in the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship.

Beaverstown assistant Rhys Walton, son of Philip who represented Europe in the 1995 matches, will tee up his bid at golfing glory in the regional qualifier at Co Meath.

The championship, which has a total prize fund of £32,500 and boasts past winners including Tony Jacklin and Peter Alliss, will culminate in a final at Coventry Golf Club on August 5-7.

Walton, 22, is currently in the first year of The PGA’s Foundation degree programme which equips students with every aspect to succeed in a career in golf, from club fitting and retail to playing and marketing.

And he admitted he is relishing his latest test having been taking advice from his sister’s boyfriend Jack Harrison (Wildwood) who finished third in last year’s final.

“Jack’s been saying a lot of nice things about the event so I’m really looking forward to getting started in the qualifier,” he admitted.

“We’ve had a bad winter for golf so I feel like I’m playing catch up a bit, but my game feels good and I have been out playing competitively.

“I want to play as much as I can and eventually I would love to play on tour.

“I have a main initial aim of qualifying to play in the Irish Open and doing well in this would be a really good place to start.”

Walton admitted that his background made it inevitable he would end up developing a career in golf.

“Golf was something that I was always around with my dad playing on tour,” he admitted.

“So I always knew that was what I wanted to do – I’ve been working towards it for a while.

“I always think that you have to do what you’re interested in as that means that you will apply yourself properly.

“And that is the case with golf for me at the moment. I want to do well and I’m working hard both on the degree and with my playing to make sure I have a future in the sport.”

Mike Johnson-Hill, managing director of Galvin Green UK, said: “Galvin Green is proud to be associated with such a long-standing and valued event and keen to support the younger generation of PGA Professionals who are so important to the future of the game.”

"The popularity of this event among aspiring PGA Professionals is great to see and we are delighted to be playing a small part in their progression in the game.”

Other players competing in the regional qualifier at Co Meath include: Ian Brennan (Greenore), Ben Doyle (Blackwood), Ciaran Hegarty (Kilcock), Brian McCormack (Galway), Neil O’Briain (Old Conna) and James Sullivan (Roe Park)