Emma Allen’s decision to go down The PGA training route has given her golfing career a new lease of life and the Hampshire assistant pro reaped the rewards by topping the OCEANTEE WPGA Series Order of Merit.
While Nikki McLeish took the honours in the final counting event at Lanark, Allen’s coronation as the circuit’s No 1 was already confirmed after a fine campaign which spawned a trio of first place finishes from the five tournaments she contested.
“This has been a great season and winning the Order of Merit is a real bonus,” said the 26-year-old. “There are some really good players on the WPGA circuit so to be the circuit’s No 1 is very pleasing.”
Allen, who has just completed her first year of The PGA programme, was a highly-rated prospect in the amateur ranks and was a team-mate of future Ladies European Tour stars, Bronte Law and Meg McLaren.
In this game of fickle fortunes, however, Allen found herself drifting out of the game but the opportunity to begin her PGA training re-ignited her passion for the sport she loves.
“I was in two minds about what I wanted to do and towards the end of my amateur career I was a bit down about the game,” added Allen, who just missed out on a place in the GB&I Curtis Cup team. “I felt I hadn’t lived up to my potential. Second place seemed to be a bit of a favourite of mine and I felt I didn’t get the wins I thought I might.
“I stepped away from golf for six months, I didn’t think about it for a while and looked at jobs outside the game. I did actually get to the final interview for a job with the DP World Tour but it was an office job and I began to realise I still wanted to play golf.
“That’s where The PGA came in. I started my PGA training and it’s given me a great blend of everything. I work in the shop, I teach and I play a lot too. It’s been ideal.”
Allen will get back to her PGA studies in October while she has not given up hope of progressing her playing career.
“I’m going to try the Ladies European Tour qualifying school in December,” she said. “I want to test my game at that level and see how far I can get. I feel like the pressure is off me these days. There are no outside influences or expectations. It’s just me enjoying my golf.”
Meanwhile, in the final event on the Order of Merit, Cathcart Castle assistant McLeish produced a thrilling back nine at Lanark to claim her first WPGA Series win.
The Scot made eagles at both the 11th and 14th in a six-under 68 and secured the £700 top prize by two-shots from Royal Troon’s Hazel MacGarvie.
