TGI Golf is hoping experience will see them win back the Ashworth Cup from rivals Foremost during the duo’s annual tussle for glory.
The event, which sees the two groups contest a Ryder Cup style event over two days, will this year take place at The Belfry from August 24-26, with TGI Golf looking to win back the trophy after losing at Gleneagles last year. It promises to be an exciting match with TGI leading 3-2 overall.
Following four hotly contested qualifying events and four picks from this year’s TGI Golf skipper Carl Bianco from Woking Golf Club, there are just two newcomers to the matches in the form of Chris Morris (Kingsknowe), who secured his place by finishing second at a qualifier at Montrose Golf Club, and captain’s pick Adrian Ambler (Low Laithes).
Stephen Hamill (Lisburn) and Brendan McGovern (Headfort) will both make their fourth appearances in the Ashworth Cup after securing the top two places in the Irish qualifier held at McGovern’s home course.
Gordon Cattrell (Middlesbrough) who will also be making his fourth appearance, qualified via a qualifier at Clitheroe Golf Club, along with Michael Nesbit (Westerhope) who will be making his third appearance at the event.
Another making his fourth appearance is Shipley’s Nathan Stead, who qualified for the team at skipper Bianco’s home course Woking. Stead finished ahead of John Lines (GolfSupport) who will be making his second appearance.
Stuart Williamson (Clydeway) is the final qualifier, who topped the leaderboard at Montrose and will be making his second appearance.
Completing the team are the three other Captain’s Picks – Chris Gray (Cottingham Parks), Robert Giles (Greenore) and Paul Walker (Knott End) who have all experienced the Ashworth Cup before. Scotcraig Golf Club’s Craig Mackie will be TGI Golf’s travelling reserve.
“Our team is extremely strong this year and the level of experience is a real bonus,” said Bianco. “We have 30 appearances between us, so everyone knows what the event is all about, what is expected and what is at stake.”
Bianco, who was travelling reserve during TGI’s last victory at Celtic Manor in 2013, has left no stone unturned in the build up to the event, travelling more than 2,000 miles across the UK and Ireland to attend every qualifying event.
He added: “It’s been fantastic to meet so many fellow Partners throughout the qualification period. The welcome I have received at these events has been overwhelming and the standard of golf has been very encouraging.
“There have been some long days but I’m now looking forward to getting the team together at The Belfry and getting started. TGI Golf Partners are used to doing an exceptional job day-in-day-out, this is just another job for us to do.”
TGI Golf tgigolf.com
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