Webb taking the long route to Assistants glory

Bedlingtonshire PGA Professional Mathew Webb is set to clock up the miles in his bid to conquer the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship.

Webb, 25, will make a 500-mile round trip to The Warwickshire Golf Club on May 26 to play in the regional qualifier of the prestigious championship.

The event, which predates the US Masters having been established in 1930, has been won by some of golf’s biggest names including Tony Jacklin and Peter Alliss.

Should he claim a place among the frontrunners, Webb will then return to the county for the £32,500 final at Coventry Golf Club on August 5-7.

He hopes qualification in the event, his first national championship as a professional, will establish the momentum which will guide him towards claiming a European Tour card in three years’ time.

Webb, who has already experienced success at county level, admitted he is relishing the opportunity to play somewhere new.

“Both me and one of the other assistants at the club wanted to play in this event, and only one of us could play in the north qualifier as we had to have someone back at the club.

“But I’m really looking forward to playing somewhere different. It’s somewhere I’ve never played before but I’m feeling good about my golf and I’m confident I can go there and do well.”

The first year assistant professional followed in his father Marcus’ footsteps by turning pro last year.

And he admitted his dad, who is a PGA Fellow Professional and qualified PGA tutor, has been influential in helping him to establish a professional career in the sport.

“My dad’s been great,” he said. “He’s never been pushy but has always been there to offer me advice.

“I played football until I was 13 or 14 and he never once said to me ‘you should play golf’, but that meant that when I decided to play it I was more dedicated.

“It was something I wanted to do for myself and he would be there to offer little bits of advice.

“One thing he told me was to give college golf a go, so I went to Texas and really enjoyed the experience.

“He has helped a ton in getting me to where I am today.”

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 qualifier at The Warwickshire include: Michael Antona (Coventry), Jamie Carney (Robin Hood), Christopher Evans (Wishaw), Fred Jewsbury (Stratford on Avon), Nigel Randle (Nuneaton) and Robert Tovey (Stonebridge).