History-making PGA Professional Jon Bevan has made an immediate impact at his new club by teaming up with its captain and qualifying for the final of the SkyCaddie Pro-Captain Challenge.
Bevan (above, left) was the captain when the Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team won on American soil for the first time in 2015.
Now, two months after becoming the head PGA Professional at Sandwell Park Golf Club in the West Midlands, he and its captain, Andy Fowler, will represent it in the final of the popular competition.
That will be staged at the PGA National Italy Argentario Golf and Wellness Resort in October and the pair booked their place in it by winning one of the competition’s 10 qualifying events.
Conveniently that was held at the duo’s home club, and they made local knowledge count by racking up 42 Stableford points in a bogey-free round to finish two clear of the field.
Fowler, who plays off 15, provided the highlight of the round with an eagle at the par-four ninth before both players each accounted for a brace of birdies on the back nine.
“The eagle set us up nicely and we ham-and-egged really well after that,” said Bevan, who was born in nearby Sutton Coldfield but had not worked in the region before.
“Obviously Andy knows the course a lot better than I do as I’ve only been here two months, so he was a great help going round.
“And it’s great to qualify for the final – for two reasons. I’ve never been to Italy before so I’m looking forward to that, especially playing at what I’m told is a fabulous venue.
“It’s also a brilliant way to start my career here. The win has ticked a box with the members and given me a warm feeling.”
Fowler, a retired civil servant (above, right), added: “The final will be played in the last month of my captaincy so it will be a great way to sign off.
“Not that I expected to be playing in it after my tee shot on the first went out of bounds! Then we couldn’t buy a putt. It all came good with the eagle at the ninth and we combined really well after that.”
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