Matthews leads the home challenge for Putter
FORMER professional and Walker Cup player Llewellyn Matthews is among 26 home players teeing off the traditional amateur golf season in the Duncan Putter at the Southerndown club on April 9.
Matthews, 31, sprung to golfing prominence becoming Wales’ only winner of the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy and in 2007 was rubbing shoulders alongside Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and fellow Welshman Rhys Davies in the Walker Cup at Royal County Down, Northern Ireland.
But following the quartet into the paid ranks really didn’t play off and after attempts to secure fame and fortune on the Asian Tour, Matthews has returned to the amateur ranks where the qualified greenkeeper is now a manager at bunker construction company Eco-Bunker.
And the Southerndown member will be among 66 players trying to win the prestigious Duncan Putter tournament on his home course next week in a tournament that brings together amateur players from across the globe.
Apart from the strong Welsh contingent, the Duncan Putter will also feature 29 English players, six Irish, four Germans and one South African in the 72 hole event from April 9-10.
“We look forward to welcoming all these elite players to our club and tournament once again this year and hopefully watching some outstanding play on our downland links,” said tournament director John Peters.
Meanwhile Joe Vickery from Parc Golf Club has been named a PGA trainee of the year at the West Region PGA annual meeting at Cumberwell Park, near Bath.
Vickery, a former Welsh amateur international at all levels, spent his career at Newport Golf Club and had been appointed club professional at the club in succession to Paul Harris until his recent move to Parc where he is continuing his role in developing young golf talent in Wales.