Team mates Simon Lilly and Glyn Pepper were on fire in Italy last week, taking the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge trophy back to Wellingborough GC in Northamptonshire after victory in the 2023 Grand Final.
PGA Professional Lilly scorched around the Par 71 PGA National Italy golf course at the Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort in 65-67 to lead Pepper, who is Club Captain at Wellingborough, to a two-point victory over Nicholas Cairns and Sam Orlopp from Swaffham GC in Norfolk.
Ten teams made their way to the luxurious Tuscany golf resort after winning their regional qualifier in one of the PGA’s most popular national events.
For the seventh successive year tournament sponsor SkyCaddie supplied top-of-the-range SX550 Tourbook GPS rangefinders to all competitors, preloaded with the day’s pins and the very latest course yardages, all exclusive to SkyCaddie and mapped on foot for accuracy.
“I’ve used SkyCaddie GPS for years, I love it” said Simon Lilly. “I use the layups and hazard yardages all the time. It’s a true virtual caddie, especially where you can’t use a laser.
“At Argentario there are lots of doglegs and blind tee shots where you can’t pick up the fairway with a laser, but it only takes seconds to see where you should hit it with the SkyCaddie.
“This week I used IntelliPath for the first time – it is incredibly impressive for carries and runouts. The SkyCaddie saves you so much time, and gives you so much more information.”
His partner, 11 handicap golfer Glyn Pepper, had spent a decade as a laser user before trying the SkyCaddie SX550 in Italy last week.
“As an amateur I visit some places the pros never see!” he said. “But with the SkyCaddie you always have a clear view. The graphics are unbelievable, and it only takes seconds to work out your next shot even when you don’t have line of sight.
“I’m so impressed, I am buying one as soon as I get back to the golf club!”
Over 800 competitors entered the 2023 SkyCaddie event, playing in PGA Pro + Captain pairs at ten regional qualifiers across Great Britain and Ireland.
James Holmes, SkyCaddie’s Director of Sales & Operations EMEA, said: “In this event the PGA Pro and Club Captain work closely together, discussing course strategy and yardages. It’s the ideal fit for SkyCaddie, as we are the acknowledged yardage experts.
“Hundreds of competitors used SkyCaddie GPS to score lower in this year’s event, and we received amazing feedback as usual.
“We walk the course so we can hear comments just like this! We congratulate Simon and Glyn on their victory and hope to see them back to defend their title in next year’s event.”
The 2023 SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge was supported by Asbri Golf and Prostate Cancer UK, and offered a £22,000 prize fund for PGA Professionals. The tournament is a fourball Stableford team competition open to all golf clubs affiliated to their national golf union.
See all SkyCaddie details at uk.skygolf.com or call +44 (0)1844 296360.
