Well-qualified Crowder ends English PGA Championship drought
28/06/2021
Liverpool-based professional Chris Crowder will make his first appearance in the English PGA Championship final after winning the North qualifying event at Preston Golf Club.
Crowder, who has been attached to Lee Park Golf Club for 17 years, has qualified for the PGA Professional Championship final on numerous occasions, including this year’s recent event at Blairgowrie.
But this will be his debut in the £30,000 English PGA Final at Bowood Golf Club, Calne, Wiltshire, next month.
Crowder made an impressive start to his round at Preston and opened with three successive birdies.
That set him up for victory and he added another two to post a four under par round of 67.
Crowder topped the leaderboard by one shot ahead of Phil Kelly (PK Golf) - who made six birdies - and Simon Kerr (Brampton Golf Club) at the Lancashire venue.
“I must be one of the most qualified players for the PGA Professional Championship final, but this is one I’ve never played in,” said Crowder, who coaches at Liverpool Golf Centre.
“I tried to qualify before and missed out, so it’s great to get what is my first win of the year and I’m really chuffed to be in the final.
“It’ll keep the playing calendar going after what has been a funny couple of years.
“But starting well with those birdies meant I could cruise a little in that position to make sure I qualified. I just needed to keep the ball safe after that.”
Crowder admits that the past 12 months have been stop-start, as they have for most PGA Professionals, but he says things are starting to look up on and off the course.
“I was able to get some practice with a net at home last year when I could, but what we’re seeing now is a big demand among the public to come and play.
“It’s been a case of doing nothing as a coach, then never being as busy as I am now.”
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