Booth looks in great shape to defend his title
ROBERT Booth has hit a rich vein of form as he prepares to defend his PGA North Region Championship crown at Bolton Old Links next week.
The 33-year-old assistant professional at Crosland Heath has already clocked up six wins this season, including the Yorkshire Open at Howley Hall which he followed a day later by adding the Werneth pro-am to his list of achievements.
Booth, who finished third in the Leeds Cup at Cobble Hall in May, won the region’s flagship event last year at Carus Green by a shot, and he’s hoping to complete a rare double at Old Links in the 36-hole tournament on July 25-26, which will be preceded by a pro-am.
“I’ve only played the course once and that was some time ago but I can remember it was very challenging,” he said.
“My goal this year is to try to win my card at the European Tour School.
“I’ve been encouraged by my boss and coach Richard Lambert, the head professional at Crosland Heath, who’s been teaching me for nearly five years.
“My other target is to win the PGA North and Yorkshire PGA orders-ofmerit.”
Bolton assistant professional and former Old Links junior Aaron Moon is also in the 107-strong line-up.
He lost part of his right leg serving in the Marines when their armoured vehicle was struck by an explosive device in Afghanistan eight years ago.
There are also seven past winners in the field including Phil Archer, a member of the GB and Ireland PGA team Cup who will face their American counterparts in the biennial match at Surrey’s Foxhills resort on September 15-17.
The Birchwood player last won the North Region title back in 2002 before embarking on a European Tour career.
Other past champions apart from Booth include Snainton Golf Centre’s Alex Belt, Chilli Dip Academy’s Craig Corrigan, Royal Liverpool’s Michael Jones, Penwortham’s Ryan O’Neill and North Wales-based Matthew Tottey.
Meanwhile, Renishaw Park’s Michael Ramsden will be hoping to add the title to his Leeds Cup success. ■■Chris Hanson may not be involved in the Open Championship – but he’s still a very busy man.
And hot on the horizon for the 31-year-old Spain-based Woodsome Hall European Tour professional is a Charity Ball at The Venue in Calderdale.
Functions by TLC are organising the event on Friday, August 4 (6.30 onwards) and Hanson is hosting it in support of Breast Cancer Now and British Inclusive Golf.
It’s a black tie three-course dinner at £50 per person but there’s a welcome drink, golf games, photo booth, raffle, DJ and band, vodka luge, silent auction and casino in addition to the guest speakers.
There are drinks incentives for fulltable bookings of 10 people and there is still time to book. Contact functionsbytlc@gmail.com