Stakes are high as Parker launches new career

Nov 6 2007 by Richard Williamson, Liverpool Daily Post

BEN PARKER embarks on his new career as a professional golfer this week – and the stakes could not be higher in his first event.

The Germany-based former England international came through the first stage of the qualifying school for the prestigious and lucrative European Tour while still an amateur.

But after deciding to commit himself to the paid ranks, the 20-year-old now goes to stage two this week knowing that the level of golf he will be playing in the next 12 months depends on his success over the next four days in Spain.

Reaching the third and final stage at San Roque will open doors onto the Challenge Tour at the very least while missing out at stage two could leave Parker starting out on the EPD Tour in Germany.

However Parker, who is attached to Royal Birkdale along with sister Florentyna Parker, an England ladies international, refuses to be intimidated by what is at stake.

“It is no use thinking about that,” says Parker, whose father Tim was a professional at Bootle before moving to Germany.

Parker, who will have his sister as caddy this week in Spain, has not played in a tournament since helping England to regain the Home Internationals in September but has been practising hard to hone his swing.

“We have been working on bits and pieces and trying to get my swing as sound as possible,” he explains.

Parker’s involvement with the England elite squad this year has given him a brief glimpse of the Arcos Gardens course where his future hopes will be decided.

“We had an England training session at the course so I have at least played it before,” he said, “It is a tricky course and the winds can make it even harder.

“But a lot will depend on how well I putt this week. If I have a good week on the greens I am hopeful of progressing.”

Parker will be joined at Arcos Gardens by Paul Waring, another member of the English Golf Union elite squad to have now turned professional, and, like the Wirral golfer, he recognises the importance of his time as a top amateur international.

“The EGU has been really good to me,” Parker said. “Being involved with England has allowed me to play in countries like America and Australia and play against the best amateur players in the world and I would not have reached the levels I have without that.

“As well as the technical training, the EGU offer a lot of advice on subjects such as nutrition, for example.”

The past season has seen Parker lift the German Amateur title, although he ranks his wins in the Tasmania Open and the Orange Bowl in Florida the previous season as the more prestigious successes on his blossoming CV.

“I played in the German Amateur when I was 14 but since then the dates have clashed with other events,” said Parker, who was off plus 4.1 when he turned professional. “I finished six under for the four rounds and won by five shots so it was comparatively comfortable. It was a case of making sure I played soundly on the last day so nobody from the chasing pack caught me.”