SCOTS BID FOR SKINS PGA FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

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Two Scottish PGA pros will shrug off injury worries as they bid to land the prestigious Skins PGA Fourball Championship next week.
Michael Rae from Perthshire’s Alyth Golf Club and Sean O’Donnell from Fife course Balbirnie Park have been nursing pelvic and wrist problems respectively but the pair are confident of mounting a challenge in the £30,000 event which is staged at Lincolnshire’s Forest Pines Golf and Country Club from October 5-7.
Image of Michael Rae (left) and Sean O'Donnell by courtesy of Ian McNicol at Getty Images.
The duo are among several Scottish pairings targeting the £5,000 first prize including Tartan Tour aces David Orr (East Renfrewshire) and Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) who topped the qualifier at Musselburgh.
“We’re the sort of players who like to attack every hole, we like this format, it takes the pressure off you individually a little bit,” said Rae.
“We’ve had a couple of injury problems to contend with - I’ve had a pelvic injury which has led to some back problems and Sean’s had a wrist injury - but we’ll be there for the final, we may not be 100 per cent fit, but we’ll be fighting 100 per cent.”
The pair know each other’s games inside out, having played junior golf together and are looking to dovetail well both on and off the course.
“I’ve known Sean forever it seems. We grew up together and played as amateurs at Alyth before Sean moved up to Balbirnie,” addd Rae.
“We’re good friends and he was one of the ushers at my wedding. It’s great to have the opportunity to play together and hope it’s a fun week but at the same time want to do well.”
Other Scottish pairings include Musselburgh’s Andrew Munro and Norman Huguet, Simon Payne (Cowglen Golf Club) and Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf) and Paul Brookes (Pitreave Golf Club) and Jamie Stevenson (Braehead Golf Club).
For title sponsors Skins, the four-ball championship is set to cap a successful year on the golfing front which has seen one of its brand ambassadors Rory McIlroy clinch a major breakthrough with his stunning victory in the US Open at Congressional.
The Northern Irish superstar is helping Skins to establish its already successful worldwide brand in the golf market.
SKINS PGA FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Forest Pines, 5 – 7 October 2011
PGA Scottish Region competitors:
David Orr (East Renfrewshire) and  Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills)
Andrew Munro & Norman Huguet (Musselburgh)
Sean O’Donnell (Balbirnie Park) and Michael Rae (Alyth)
Simon Payne (Cowglen) and Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf)
Paul Brookes ( Pitreavie) and Jamie Stevenson (Braehead)
Full list of entries and event information for the Championship can be found at:
http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi11/event/pgagbi11231/index.htm
Visit http://www.pga.info/PGAFourballChampionship.aspx for more information on the Skins PGA Fourball Championship