Four-time Ryder Cup player and nine-time European Tour winner Maurice Bembridge will add some extra star quality to the field at next week’s PGA Super 60s tournament.
The 67-year-old Worksop-born ace, who know resides in St Gallen in Switzerland, will be making his debut in the event as he teams up with longstanding friend Michael Curley for the 36-hole contest, which is being staged at Lincolnshire’s De Vere Belton Woods for the third year running from 12-13 September.
Bembridge, who has been a regular on the European Senior Tour for the past 16 years, collecting two titles along the way to add to his career haul, revealed that two-time Super 60s winner David Snell had played a part in getting him to compete.
“I know David from when he was at Worksop and I was an assistant there too,” said Bembridge. “David was telling me all about the tournament and about how good it was. I’m not playing as much on the Senior Tour and it sounded like something I would enjoy, especially as it is only up the road from where I grew up in Worksop.
“I’m looking forward to taking part. I wanted to play with an old friend of mine and I’m not doing a lot at the moment and this is perfect. I’m coming over to play and going to try and enjoy it and play to my best.”
Bembridge, who in his spare time is undertaking German lessons at his Swiss home, admitted he was fighting fit ahead of the tournament.
He has featured three times on the Senior Tour this season including at the recent Wales Senior Open.
“I don’t play as much as I am a lot further down the list but I play as and when I can as it is what I have done all my life,” said the 1967 PGA Assistants’ champion. “I keep practising mostly every day and I’m looking forward to trying out my latest secret!
“As for how myself and Michael will do, well, in betterball it is very hard to predict as it depends on how we play as a team rather than individuals.”
The tournament carries a £10,000 prize which will see defending champions Graham Burroughs (Boyce Hill) and partner Robbie Hubbard seeking a third title in four years.
Previous championship winning pairs in the field include former Hagley pro Iain Clark and Colin Day; Frank Hill (Thorpeness) and Brian Underwood; John Lower (WollatonPark) and Stuart Belcher; Alan Roach (West Midlands) and Steve Wild along with Snell (College Pines) and Jack Timms.
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