Galvin Green PGA assistants' championship

                                                            

Harrison hopes for happier ending this year at Coventry

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PGA

Jack Harrison took the first steps towards wrapping up some unfinished business by topping the leaderboard at the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship at Coventry Golf Club.

The Wildwood assistant PGA Professional led for two days in the same event 12 months ago, even hitting a hole-in-one during a stellar first round, yet missed out by one shot after a disappointing final day saw him cut adrift of the top two.

So determined was he to end his Assistants’ jinx at the third, and final, time of asking, he even declined a place in the Challenge Tour’s Northern Ireland Open to take his place among the 120-strong field at the West Midlands venue.

The £32,500 three-day event is only open to PGA Professionals completing their training and, as a final-year assistant, this is Harrison’s last shot.
And there was no stopping the Surrey pro as he carded two birdies over his first three holes, carrying the momentum forward to finish the day with a five-under-par total of 68, one-shot clear of his nearest challengers.

“I definitely felt that I had unfinished business so I really wanted to come back here to try to better myself,” Harrison explained.

“I finished third last year, second the year before. I turned down an invite to the Challenge Tour’s event in Northern Ireland because I really want to win this one.”

Harrison, who is aiming to secure a place on the European Tour, admitted the experience of missing out last time around has helped him to improve his game.

“I learnt a lot from the experience of missing out last year. I went into the last round far too defensive rather than continuing with the frame of mind that had got me into that position in the first place.

“I’m definitely a better player now than I was then and the mental side of the game is where I feel I’ve made my biggest improvement.

“I’ve started work with a sports psychologist and he’s helped me to focus on one shot at a time and think carefully about my routine.

“I had a top 10 in Switzerland on the Challenge Tour this year which was my best finish. I’m making cuts and finishing in plenty of top 20s but I want to continue to push on and do better.”

Former European Tour player David Griffiths, who is in his first year on the PGA training programme, shares second place with Thomas Obergan (Berkhamsted) – both carded four-under-par 69s.
Griffiths from West Herts Golf Club, and a former England boys’ captain, only stepped foot on the course for the first time in a practice round so was pleased with his display.
“It was pretty solid, just the one bogey and a couple of decent saves for par,” he said.

“Considering I only played it yesterday for the first time, it felt pretty good and I took advantage of a couple of the par fives. One long one that went in when I was trying to get it close, overall it was all pretty solid.”

LEADING SCORES

GALVIN GREEN PGA ASSISTANTS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

Pos               Score                      Name                     Club
1                  68 (-5)           Jack Harrison           Wildwood
T2                69 (-4)           Thomas Obergan      Berkhamsted
                                                David Griffiths          West Herts
T4                70 (-3)          Adam Keogh            Spalding
                                                Robert Bardsley        Moor Hall
                                                James Hannam         Bath
                                                James Ruth             China Fleet
                                                Tyler Wink               Unattached
                                                Neil O’Briain             Old Conna