Barry Taylor finds form for shot at European Tour

Sep 22 2009 Liverpool Daily Post

BARRY TAYLOR underlined his credentials as a PGA Cup player when he won the James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore for the second time in three years.

The Houghwood assistant, who was in the Great Britain and Ireland line-up that took on the United States at Loch Lomond resort Cameron House, played near-perfect golf as he strung together a pair of 68s for a six-under-par aggregate.

He dropped only one shot on each day but more than compensated for the lapses with four birdies on each occasion, all achieved through precision approach work, apart from a fortunate chip-in at the fourth hole in the opening round.

Taylor finished two ahead of joint overnight leader, Huyton & Prescot professional John Fisher.

Taylor is hoping he can carry his good form into the end of season qualifying schools, as he attempts to win his European Tour card.

Taylor, 31, who is also seeking his fifth Lancashire PGA matchplay title, has noticed an improvement in his game since his first lesson with Peter Cowan last month.

“He’s changed by backswing to increase my power, but I’m still working on my swing,” he added.

Glyn Rees, a 62-year-old two- handicapper, from Fleetwood, tied on 67 with Fisher at the end of the first round, closed with 72 for third place overall, and comfortably won the senior award by six shots from Ray Peters, who coaches at Leisure Lakes, near Southport.

SEAN DOHERTY gave himself a perfect tonic after a three-month lay-off with a wrist injury when he won the Lancashire PGA Championship at Accrington. The 25-year-old Bury assistant said: “ All I could do was teach while I was waiting for it to heal.”

Doherty strung together rounds of 68 and 70 for a two-under-par aggregate as past winners Barry Taylor, from Houghwood, and Haigh Hall teaching professional Craig Corrigan trailed a shot adrift.

Bill Fletcher, from Leisure Lakes, won the senior prize for a sixth year running with an 80.

IT’S all change for the PGA North Region Championship as it switches from the North East to Yorkshire, after attracting new funding.

International freight forwarders Thomson Davis will sponsor the 36-hole tournament at Marriott Hollins Hall Golf and Country Club, on September 29-30.

This is the 62nd staging of the tournament, which boasts many famous past winners, including European Tour pros Andrew Murray, Phil Archer and Paul Eales.