Scots Murray White and Bill Lockie in the mix after first round
Hudson and Main set pace in PGA Super-60s
championship at Caldy Golf Club
FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
There were no rock ‘n’ roll tantrums at Caldy Golf Club, Lancashire as the Gallagher brothers were in tune – well almost - in their bid for golfing glory.
This wasn’t the fiery estranged Oasis duo of Liam and Noel calling the shots but Mike and John, a pair of 60-somethings competing in the PGA Super 60s Championship.
Mike, PGA Professional at Farthingstone Hotel and Golf Course in Northampton, and elder brother John, a past captain at nearby Carden Park, were teaming up for the first time in years. No family argument keeping these apart – just the small matter of a couple hundred miles.
There was not an inkling of the sibling rivalry that haunts their more illustrious musical namesakes as they combined to be among the front runners for the title after a wet and windy opening round at the Wirral venue.
At four-under-par, aided by a rocketing start that saw them five-under after five, they sit three off the pace set by tournament stalwart John Hudson (Rivenhall Oaks) and his amateur partner Alf Main.
The golfing brothers in arms reflected on their opening salvo in the £10,000 championship, which hasn’t left them looking back in anger, well not too much.
“We went off like an express train with birdies and John getting a nett eagle on the par fifth but after that we couldn’t get anything after that and just scrambled round,” said Mike.
“It should have been a lot better. We didn’t use our shots in the end. John’s very useful and he hits it a long way for an old boy. We don’t play much and we get on well but as with all brothers it can be painful at times!”
John added: “This is the first time I’ve played with Mike in many a year. He’s staying with me and hopefully that’ll be a lucky charm.
“It’s good playing together, but there’s still that element you get with brothers – but we’re good pals.”
The early starters, which included the Gallaghers and defending champion Anglo-Scot Murray White (Centurion Club), who posted five-under-par with partner Glyn Radcliffe, benefitted from the best of the conditions and looked to be heading into day two on top.
Also on the 67 mark were Bill Lockie (Gailes Golf and Leisure) and his amateur partner Ian Wallace.
But Hudson and Main, who plays off 13, found plenty of resolve in the rain which came down with such force that the stunning views across the Dee Estuary were obliterated.
They were not alone in meeting the rain head on as debutant Brent Ellis (Filton) and 19 handicapper Geoff Anderson plus Mike McLean (Chesterfield) and his ally Jack Wheeldon came through the eye of the storm to post competitive tallies of six-under.
Leader Hudson, who was playing with Main for the first time in 25 years, said: "Considering the conditions we’re well pleased. The highlight was holing a short bunker shot at the eighth to get to one under. We birdied the next short hole (10th) and Alf used his shots his well. We finished birdie-birdie, which ended off a nice round.
“Alf didn’t need a lot of coaching around, he hit the ball nicely and played it steady. We played the difficult holes well and that made a difference.”
A tight-knit leaderboard sees just four shots separating the top nine teams ahead of the second and final round leaving the destination of the title wide open.
The opening round also witnessed a hole-in-one for Stephen Bonham (below), who aced the 145-yard 17th.
TO VIEW ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
CLICK HERE
championship at Caldy Golf Club
FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
There were no rock ‘n’ roll tantrums at Caldy Golf Club, Lancashire as the Gallagher brothers were in tune – well almost - in their bid for golfing glory.
This wasn’t the fiery estranged Oasis duo of Liam and Noel calling the shots but Mike and John, a pair of 60-somethings competing in the PGA Super 60s Championship.
Mike, PGA Professional at Farthingstone Hotel and Golf Course in Northampton, and elder brother John, a past captain at nearby Carden Park, were teaming up for the first time in years. No family argument keeping these apart – just the small matter of a couple hundred miles.
There was not an inkling of the sibling rivalry that haunts their more illustrious musical namesakes as they combined to be among the front runners for the title after a wet and windy opening round at the Wirral venue.
At four-under-par, aided by a rocketing start that saw them five-under after five, they sit three off the pace set by tournament stalwart John Hudson (Rivenhall Oaks) and his amateur partner Alf Main.
The golfing brothers in arms reflected on their opening salvo in the £10,000 championship, which hasn’t left them looking back in anger, well not too much.
“We went off like an express train with birdies and John getting a nett eagle on the par fifth but after that we couldn’t get anything after that and just scrambled round,” said Mike.
“It should have been a lot better. We didn’t use our shots in the end. John’s very useful and he hits it a long way for an old boy. We don’t play much and we get on well but as with all brothers it can be painful at times!”
John added: “This is the first time I’ve played with Mike in many a year. He’s staying with me and hopefully that’ll be a lucky charm.
“It’s good playing together, but there’s still that element you get with brothers – but we’re good pals.”
The early starters, which included the Gallaghers and defending champion Anglo-Scot Murray White (Centurion Club), who posted five-under-par with partner Glyn Radcliffe, benefitted from the best of the conditions and looked to be heading into day two on top.
Also on the 67 mark were Bill Lockie (Gailes Golf and Leisure) and his amateur partner Ian Wallace.
But Hudson and Main, who plays off 13, found plenty of resolve in the rain which came down with such force that the stunning views across the Dee Estuary were obliterated.
They were not alone in meeting the rain head on as debutant Brent Ellis (Filton) and 19 handicapper Geoff Anderson plus Mike McLean (Chesterfield) and his ally Jack Wheeldon came through the eye of the storm to post competitive tallies of six-under.
Leader Hudson, who was playing with Main for the first time in 25 years, said: "Considering the conditions we’re well pleased. The highlight was holing a short bunker shot at the eighth to get to one under. We birdied the next short hole (10th) and Alf used his shots his well. We finished birdie-birdie, which ended off a nice round.
“Alf didn’t need a lot of coaching around, he hit the ball nicely and played it steady. We played the difficult holes well and that made a difference.”
A tight-knit leaderboard sees just four shots separating the top nine teams ahead of the second and final round leaving the destination of the title wide open.
The opening round also witnessed a hole-in-one for Stephen Bonham (below), who aced the 145-yard 17th.
TO VIEW ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: PGA
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Wednesday, August 19, 2015
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