A two-time order of merit champion is returning to competitive golf at the Glenmuir WPGA Professional Championship pre-qualifying event at Dunham Forest Golf Club in Cheshire today (17 May).
Laura Hendriksen, of Newton Abbott’s Hele Park Golf Club, is getting her playing career back on track in the Peugeot supported event after getting married last March.
She is hoping to earn a place in the 36-hole final at De Vere Carden Park from 9-10 August and also earn a third Merit title which the Glenmuir qualifying event counts towards.
The Devon-based player – maiden name Eastwood – tied the knot with fellow PGA professional Dan Hendriksen of Churston Golf Club.
And Laura will be hoping to emulate brother-in-law Paul Hendriksen, of Dinnaton Golf Club, who topped the Glenmuir West Region qualifier at Ferndown earlier this month.
Laura, who coaches both Devon ladies and girls squads, is eager to recapture the winning feeling.
“I didn’t play much last year because I was getting married and was planning for the wedding,” she said. “But now I want to challenge again and I’ll be playing in all but one of the WPGA One Day Series events and feel I can compete.”
She has identified last year’s Order of Merit winner, Fern Grimshaw of Wessex Golf Centre, as one of her main rivals.
“I see Fern as one of the players to beat, she’s been getting better and better every year,” she added. Marie Allen was in good form last year as well so I’m looking forward to competing against them again.
“I enjoy my coaching, but I also think that, to do that, you have to play so I’m really looking forward to getting back into it this year.”
Other players taking part at Dunham Forest include Tracy Loveys (Bigbury), Catherine Panton-Lewis (Berkshire), Lucy Clarke (Chelmsford), Alexandra Keighley (Huddersfield), Sarah Carty (Black Bush) and Rosalyn Vaughan-Jones (Warwickshire Golf Club).
Glenmuir managing director, Colin Mee, said: “We’re delighted to continue our sponsorship of the Glenmuir Women’s PGA Professional Championship, which is extremely well respected and supported. The Nicklaus Course at De Vere Carden Park will be a fantastic backdrop for this year’s final in August.”
Visit http://www.pga.info/PGAProfessionalChampionship.aspx for more information on the Glenmuir Women’s PGA Professional Championship