DAVID PATRICK in action. Image by courtesy of GETTY IMAGES.

DAVID PATRICK HAPPY TO A TOP TIP FOR PGA

ASSISTANTS’ FINAL AT EAST SUSSEX NATIONAL

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
David Patrick is relishing being tipped as one of the favourites for the Powerade PGA Assistants’ Championship at East Sussex National Golf Club on July 28-30.
The former Walker Cup player from Fife’s Elie Golf Club was third in the FootJoy-supported event in 2009 and was named this year’s Titleist PGA Rookie of the Year.
And his current record, plus Walker Cup background and victory in the Scottish Assistants’ Championship, suggests Patrick will be one of the leading contenders.
“Having the favourite tag is something of a compliment,” said Patrick who played with Luke Donald in the 1999 Walker Cup.
“Golf is all about confidence and being viewed as a favourite is certainly a boost.
“Golf is also very fickle and form and confidence can come and go in equal measure, so anything that helps that is a bonus.
“As for winning the PGA Assistants’ title - that would be an honour.
“Winning any national title is a major achievement but the Assistants’ is one of those special ones given you only have three attempts to win it.
“For those going through the education programme this is our flagship event and the one you want to win.
“I feel pretty good about my chances as I am a bit more experienced than some in the field. When I went to the tournament last year I hadn’t played that much in the build up to it but I’m playing a bit more this year.
“But my golf is frustrating as I am playing better than my scoring suggests. In the pro-ams I have played in, I’m a couple of shots from a good finish and so I just need to work on a couple of things.”
Patrick, who has recently completed the second year of his PGA foundation degree, knows that the absence of last year’s winner Jonathan Lupton - who triumphed by 10 shots at The London Club - will be significant.
He added: “I’ve spent a lot of my career playing for titles and to get the PGA Assistants’ title would feel a little bit special. This is a very good event and is being staged on a very good course at East Sussex National.
“Jonathan Lupton had one of those weeks where everything went right for him from the very first round. There nothing you can do when that happens, you can only play your own game.”
Other Scots involved in the final include Greg McBain of Royal Dornoch, who won the qualifier at Auchterarder, and West Linton’s Gareth Wright, who was second.
Charlotte Goff, account manager for Coca-Cola, said: “We at Coca-Cola are pleased to be sponsoring the Powerade PGA Assistants’ Championship for a further three years until 2012. We wish all the finalists good luck in the final which I am sure will be a hotly contested event at East Sussex National.”

+Competitor draw and full list of entries for the Championship Final at East Sussex National can be found under ‘Schedule, Scores and Results’ at http://www.pga.info/PGAAssistantsChampionship.aspx
+Visit www.PGA.info for up to date reports and scores throughout the season from the Powerade PGA Assistants’ Championship and all PGA tournaments