Chippenham Golf Club's James Cooper is hoping to wrap up his time as a PGA Trainee with a Coca-Cola Assistants' Championship title, as he tees it up in this event for the final time.
With PGA Graduation on the horizon, this week's Championship – held at Kedleston Park, Derby, from Tuesday 21st to Thursday 23rd July – is Cooper's last chance to land the flagship Trainee event, first played in 1930.
"I'm really looking forward to it. I've passed all my exams now, so this will be my last chance playing in the Assistants' Championship," he said. "I've had a decent year – a good few events at the start of the season – and I'm just trying to build on that and have a good finish for the rest of the year."
Cooper arrives at Kedleston Park in good shape. He finished fourth in his qualifier for the Championship in June, and heads into the week off the back of a strong season on the Chrome Tour Open Series, including victory at Cotswold Hills and three further top-five finishes.
That run has him fourth in the Order of Merit, and with two events left to play, Cooper chases a top-three finish, sitting within touching distance.
"To compete against the main guys at the top of The PGA, it's always great to get a win," he said.
"I went to Q School last year and I've got a Challenge Tour card, so playing in a few of those events has helped my confidence to go and compete in PGA tournaments."
It's Cooper's third crack at the Championship in as many years, having finished T24 in 2023, T10 in 2024 and T24 again last year. The 2025 champion, Paul Kinnear, has since progressed to full Membership and is no longer eligible to defend – leaving the door open for a new name on the trophy.
This year's Championship marks the first time it's been staged at Kedleston, and Cooper heads into the week having never played the course.
"It's a new venue for me. I'm going to drive down Monday afternoon, walk the course and have a look. I'm looking forward to playing somewhere different."
The 140-strong field will compete over 54 holes of stroke play, with the cut falling after day two to the leading 50 players, for a total prize fund of £29,800.
Cooper believes the Championship remains a vital opportunity for Trainees as they progress through to full Membership.
"Obviously you have the PGA Professional Championship, but it's good to have other avenues for the assistants," he said. "For the guys just starting their PGA training, it's a good confidence booster playing in those assistants' events and building from there."
To follow the scoring from Kedleston Park, click here
