Hugo Dobson’s ninth place finish in the Bridgestone Challenge at Luton Hoo last week has earned him an invitation to play in another PGA Challenge Tour event, the Hopps Open de Provence at Mallemort in France next week, writes Tony Garnett.
Dobson was due to be competing in the PGA European Tour qualifying school first round at Stoke by Nayland. Now he has switched to Bom Sucesso in Portugal between October 9 and 12.
This course is an hour’s drive north of Lisbon near Obidos on Portugal’s Silver Coast.
Dobson, attached to Woodbridge Golf Club, often spends time at Stonham Barns practising on their new Golfzon indoor golf simulator.
Bom Sucesso does not feature, but such famous courses as St Andrews, Carnoustie, Pebble Beach and many other top venues in the United States do.
The golfing developments at Stonham, master-minded by PGA professional Tony Dobson, have been spectacular.
There is an indoor teaching bay with all the new technology. This is in addition to a nine-hole course for golf and footgolf. There is an option of bigger holes to make putting more fun for juniors.
The new Smugglers Adventure Golf has been a big hit during the school holidays. The 18-hole par 60 putting course is also proving popular with adults.
Jamie Abbott (Ipswich) will be in the European Tour qualifier at Stoke by Nayland. He knows the Gainsborough course well.
He is joined by Sam Forgan (Stowmarket) as the only Suffolk players at the local venue. Forgan missed the cut by one shot in the PGA Europro Irish Masters in County Wicklow. Miles Collins (Stoke by Nayland), Connor Wordsall (The Essex) and James Allan (Chelmsford) also came home early.
Abbott hopes to return to the Challenge Tour in the Monaghan Irish Challenge at Concra Wood Golf Club between October 4 and 7.
European Tour Qualifying School Stage Two: November 2 to 5. Venues: Alenda GC, Las Colinas (both near Alicante), Desert Springs (Almeria) and Panoramica (Castellon).
The final stage will be at Lumine Golf Club at Tarragona between November 10 and 15.
- There are two more Suffolk Golf Union Order of merit club events. They are the Greene King Salver at Seckford tomorrow and the Duncan Masters at Fynn Valley on September 23.
Ryan Parfett has retired from his management role at Fynn Valley. Late entries for the Duncan Masters can still be made by ringing Ashley Boother on 01473 785267.
After that event the qualifiers for the Road to Aldeburgh event on October 28 will be finalised.
The top 20 qualifiers from the gross scores will be joined by the top 16 in the handicap section (excluding those who have qualified in the gross list).
Things can change. At present the qualifiers are: Gross: James Biggs, Jed Seeley, Luke Thompson, Danny Western, Sam Debenham, Sam Byford, Chris Bartrum, Russell Oakey, Ben Sayers, Adam Sheldrake, Jack Butcher, Chris Fleming, Calvin Sherwood, Jack Cardy, James Tyler, Max Weaver, Charlie Taylor, Craig Nurse, Greg Hills and Daniel Crosby.
- Fynn Valley’s junior open, sponsored by Woodward Markwell and Wilson Golf UK, was a Stableford for those with a handicap of 28 or better.
Winner was Sebastian Kubitzek, Callum Pearce was runner-up with Callum Hughes third.
Freddie Coe won the Stableford for those with handicaps of 29 or higher. Charlie Sutcliffe was second.
The best gross score came from Jack Moutell with Johnathan Tait as runner-up. The Cowslip competition was shared between Oliver Cooper and Callum Moore.
The highlight was a hole in one from Joe Ford. Fynn Valley (Coe, Hughes and Sutcliffe) retained the team prize.
- The Curry Cup was founded in 1999 by Bob and Paul Curry when they were proprietors of Colne Valley Golf Club. It has grown into a very popular part of the golfing calendar.
Colchester will meet Benton Hall in this year’s final at Benton Hall on September 23.
Group A: Three Rivers 40pts, Benton Hall 39, Stowmarket 35.5, Stapleford Abbotts 33, The Essex 32.5.
Group B: Fynn Valley 48, Colne Valley 36.5, Felixstowe Ferry 35, Epping 29, Five Lakes 26.5.
Group C: Colne Valley 42, Stoke by Nayland 36, Haverhill 35, Playgolf Colchester 32, Seckford 33.
Semi-finals: Colchester 11.5 Three Rivers 6.5 (at Colne Valley), Benton Hall beat Fynn Valley (at Stowmarket).
Final: At Benton Hall on September 23.
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