Golf: Tommy Fleetwood enjoys taste of life on European Challenge tour

May 27 2008 by Harold Brough, Liverpool Daily Post

Teenage amateur golfer Tommy Fleetwood _320

ENGLAND teenage amateur Tommy Fleetwood will join the professionals this week when the European Challenge Tour arrives in the north west.

The Oceânico Group Pro-Am Challenge is being held at Marriott Worsley Park in Manchester from tomorrow.

England-under-18 international Fleetwood, from Formby Hall, played in the pro-am at the same event two years ago and in the main Challenge Tour event last year, when he carded 69 for the first round and narrowly missed the cut.

He has been thrilled to receive the invitation to play alongside the professionals of the Challenge Tour in a tournament he rates among the highlights of his career, another landmark on his path towards the top of the amateur game and to fulfil his dream of joining the professional ranks.

His ambitions in the amateur game include the Walker Cup in 2009 or 2011.

Meanwhile, his programme for the 2008 season includes the Open at Royal Birkdale in July. He will be at the regional qualifying stage at Pleasington.

He has also been selected for the European Boys Championships in Slovenia. He played in the same championship last year when England finished runners-up.

He will be joined in Manchester by Cheshire county player Adam Wills, from Sandiway.

As part of the tournament, there will be junior golf clinics on May 28 and 31 on the practice range, where each hour-long clinic will be taught by Challenge Tour professionals, including former European Tour winner Paul Eales.

The aim is to help young golfers improve their skills and give them the chance to play with the pros, while they will also have the chance to watch the event itself.

Clinics take place on Wednesday, May 28 from 10am-11am and Saturday, May 31 from 4pm-5pm. Children with an official golf handicap are welcome to attend, but places are limited to 30 per clinic. Further details from ISM on 01565 832100.

Managing Director of tournament promoter ISM, Andrew Chandler, welcomed the initiative, saying: “Many of the Challenge Tour professionals are themselves coming through the ranks of professional golf, and it’s great that they are willing to offer their time to give tips and advice to youngsters.”

Entry to the tournament is free and with free parking on site. Wednesday is pro-am day followed by the four-day tournament which boasts a unique format. A full field of Challenge Tour players competes over the first two days, but the weekend sees two rounds played as a Pro-Am, where each professional will pair up with an amateur to compete together as a team.