Whatley aims to turn the clock back

James Whatley admits the English PGA Championship holds good memories for him after clinching a return to the final - eight years after his last appearance.

The Morley Hayes Golf Club professional won the Midlands qualifying event held at Robin Hood Golf Club.

But when the tournament was last held in 2010, Whatley finished third and he is keen to return to try and improve on that performance.

Whately topped the leaderboard at the Solihull venue after carding a four under par round of 68 to win by one shot ahead of Dan Lowe of Sandwell Park Golf Club and Halfpenny Golf Club’s Mark Sparrow.

They and 19 other qualifiers will now head to Saunton Golf Club in Devon for the £30,000 grand final which is being held between June 27-29.

Whatley kick-started his round with an eagle at the seventh hole and never looked back.

“That’s the one that got me going, there was an eagle on the 18th hole but that was more out of caution than anything else,” said the Derbyshire professional who set up the East Midlands Golf Academy 12 years ago.

“The last time I was in this final was 2010 at Goodwood and I finished third, I got in at the last minute as a reserve in that event, so it’d be nice to have another top placing in a national event.

“Had been held the following year, I would’ve been exempt from qualifying.

“I played Saunton a lot when I was an amateur, scarily that going back about 18 years ago. I played the English Amateur Championship there.

“But it’s a links course and that’s my favourite format of golf, it’ll be tough with the wind and that separates people.

‘With this event, it’s nice to have something else as well as the PGA Professional Championship for club pros, I qualified for that final last week so it’ll be nice to have two finals in June and July and that’s something to build my season around.

“But it’s a case of getting the balance right between teaching with the East Midlands Golf Academy. We’re getting really busy now so playing’s a bit of a release. It’s a balancing act but I love playing, there’s nothing like competing, it’s all about having the scorecard in your pocket.”