Zeynalov eyes Assistants’ prize

Portlethen’s Kamran Zeynalov hopes to hit the ground running after returning from holiday to take part in the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship at Coventry Golf Club.

Zeynalov, 23, has been away in St Petersburg and Prague over the last few weeks, leaving him little time to concentrate on perfecting his swing ahead of the £32,500 championship final.

The event, which will take place on August 5-7, pre-dates the US Maters having been formed in 1930 and boasts past winners including Peter Alliss and Tony Jacklin.

Zeynalov is unfazed by his lack of practice time having arrived at the Auchterarder qualifier just minutes ahead his round after bad weather wreaked havoc with the tee times.

“I think in many ways it benefits me,” he said. “I have less time to think, so you go into it more naturally.

“Maybe the fact I have had less time to practise with being away may help me in the final.

“I felt good at the qualifier, even though I started with a bogey!

“I think it’s just going to be a case of staying positive like I did then, looking at it one hole at a time and taking it as it comes.

“A lot of the improvement in my game over the last year has come in the psychological aspect of the game – I think that has made the difference from last year when I didn’t make it through the qualifier.

Zeynalov recently moved to his home-town club after beginning his career at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre.

“It’s been really nice to be at my home club.

“I enjoyed my time at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, but when the opportunity came up to work here I was always going to be interested.

“I’m very involved with the junior coaching here and I probably get more time to practise here too, even though I do have to start at five ‘o’ clock on a Saturday morning!

“Hopefully that will help when I head up to Coventry.”      

Other players from Scotland featuring in the final include: Cameron Marr (Musselburgh), Graham Forbes (Mar Hall), Robert Rushford (Glenbervie), Louis Gaughan (Bathgate), Callum Beveridge (West Kilbride) and Kevin McNiven (Gleneagles).