Blairgowrie Advertiser

Top club pros at Blair venue for championsh­ip

- GORDON BANNERMAN

Blairgowri­e Golf Club is hosting the PGA Profession­al Championsh­ip this week.

It’s the second time in the last seven years that the highly-regarded east Perthshire venue has welcomed top club pros from around the UK.

The top tournament teed-off on Monday and runs until Friday this week.

Managing secretary Stuart Wilson, who recently returned from captaining the Walker Cup GB&I team which lost narrowly to the USA in Florida, is delighted that golf is showing signs of returning to normality after the impact of Covid-19.

While spectators can’t take in this year’s championsh­ip, a 148-strong field – including host pro Neil Cameron – has teed-up for the four-round event, which carries an £80,000 prize fund.

Stuart said:“It’s an honour to be selected again to host this prestigiou­s event, which dates back to 1973.

“Christophe­r McDonnell won here in 2014, the year when the club also welcomed the Junior Ryder Cup.”

The competitio­n will roll out over the Lansdowne championsh­ip course, with the top 50 players making the cut for the weekend.

The defending champion is Matthew Ford and past winners include Brian Barnes, David Huish, Jim Farmer and Alastair Forsyth, who took the honours two years ago.

Stuart continued:“It’s a shame our members and other golf fans can’t enjoy a close-up look at the players in action but at least things are moving in the right direction after we lost the Jacques Leglise and Vagliano events.

“Hopefully they can be reschedule­d here in due course.

“While the pros will be playing on Lansdowne, our members and guests will still be able to access Rosemount, the Wee Course and the clubhouse.”

 ??  ?? Home turf Blairgowri­e pro Neil Cameron
Home turf Blairgowri­e pro Neil Cameron

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