David Smith’s title joy at PGA Championship at Hesketh

Oct 7 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

DAVID Smith won the Lancashire PGA Championship at Hesketh.

The Swinton Park assistant revealed that a back problem had prevented him from practising since May and caused him to pull out of the European Tour School qualifying round.

“I was simply not consistent enough to go for my card,” he said. “It’s affected my game for most of the season but I’m feeling fitter since I started seeing a physio a couple of weeks ago.”

That was evident from his performance at Hesketh but he also owed his success in reclaiming the title he won in 2005 to switching to a belly putter.

Meanwhile, Southport-based Bill Fletcher retained the Lancashire Seniors Championship, beating Bolton’s Bob Longworth in a play-off.

DETAILS: 145 David Smith (Swinton Park) 78 67; 147 Steve Parry (unatt) 78 69; 148 Craig Corrigan (Haigh Hall) 76 72; 149 Mike Kanski (Hesketh) 77 72; 151 Jeff Mathews (Samlesbury Golf Centre) 78 73; 152 David Shacklady (Mossock Hall) 79 73; 153 Scott Astin (Hesketh) 79 74, Allyn Laing (Mount Murray) 75 78.