[19 July 2011] Host captain Peter Wadsworth is hoping his performance matches the occasion when he tees up in the Irish qualifier for the Lombard Challenge, a PGA Pro-Captain tournament, which is being staged at Hilton Templepatrick.
Wadsworth joins the club's PGA professional and director of golf Eamonn Logue for the betterball event which is being held at the County Antrim venue on August 1 and will see one club go through to a grand final in Turkey later in the year.
It is the first time Templepatrick has hosted the PGA Pro-Captain event where PGA professionals and club captains from Ireland will be hoping to reach the 36-hole final which will be held at Antalya Golf Club's PGA Sultan Course from November 25-26 with a £25,000 prize fund at stake.
And Wadsworth insists there are fewer better settings as he prepares to attempt to make to the final with Derry-born Logue, last year's captain of the PGA Irish Region.
The course was opened in the 1990s and designed by ex-European Tour players David Jones and David Feherty on the Castle Upton Estate.
Also taking part will be Patrick Gittens, of Corrstown Golf Club, who reached last year's final. This time, he will be playing with Arthur Browne as his captain.
Other teams include former PGA Cup player John Dwyer, of Ashbourne Golf Club, and captain Martin Farrell; another PGA Cup player Leonard Owens, Royal Dublin Golf Club and his captain JJ Murphy; and David O'Sullivan, of Cobh Golf Club, who will be partnered by captain Francis Jones.
Wadsworth said: "I know I'm a member, but I think this is one of the best courses in Northern Ireland. It would certainly rival somewhere like The Belfry in my opinion. I would defy anyone to come here and say it isn't a superb venue. This is the first time we've held the Pro-Captain event and we are honoured to do so. It's a challenging course with some water that players may find a little tricky on the day."
Wadsworth insists that his game has been in good shape this year and hopes he and Logue can make it to Turkey.
He joked: "Of course we will, it's a given! But seriously, Eamonn's one of the best professionals around and we'll be doing our best."
This will be the 14th staging of the tournament. Last year it was won by Wales' Parc Golf Academy pro Richard Dinsdale and captain Steve Hook.
ENDS
Full list of entries and event information for the regional qualifier at Hilton Templepatrick.
More information on The Lombard Challenge, a PGA Pro-Captain Tournament.
For further information please contact Nathaniel Sylvester at PGA Headquarters on 01675 470 333 or e-mail media@pga.org.uk. Visit www.PGA.info for up to date reports and scores from The Lombard Challenge and all PGA tournaments
