Welsh wipes away last year’s nightmare to clinch final spot

Glaswegian Alan Welsh will play in England for the first time after winning the Powerade PGA Assistants’ Championship Scottish qualifier.

Welsh (pictured), of Cathkin Braes Golf Club, shot a four-under-par round of 65 at Auchterarder Golf Club to win by two shots.

The 22-year-old beat Cameron Marr (Musselburgh) and Louis Gaughan of Bathgate Golf Club, who both shared joint second spot.

The three will be joined by 14 other qualifiers at Coventry Golf Club for the £32,500 FootJoy-supported final on June 11-13.

Welsh believes the victory was a reward for his preparation after failing to qualify 12 months ago.

“I tried last year and I had a nightmare,” he recalled.

“I wasn’t ready for it, so this year I practiced and went out on to the course the day before.

“I’m really looking forward to the final, and not just because it’s because it’s a big event.

“Not only have I never played at Coventry, I’ve never played in England before!

“So this’ll be a major tournament for me. I’d made it one of my priorities to qualify this year and I don’t want to go there just to make up the numbers.”

Welsh admitted he got off to a good start and was well on his way to the final by the time he suffered any setbacks.

“I had a good front nine which set me up nicely,” he said.

“You’re doing well if you don’t get any bogeys and I had a couple including one on the 18th holes.

“But if you’d said to me at the start of the day that I’d get six birdies and two bogeys then I’d have taken that.”

Welsh has just completed the second year of his PGA training and is aiming for a playing career.

“First and foremost I want to play, but my training means I can always fall back on the coaching side of things one day,” he added.