Clews looking to continue rapid rise

Shifnal assistant PGA Professional Oliver Clews is taking his career one step at a time as he bids to qualify for the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship.

Clews, 24, will play in the regional qualifier at Coventry Golf Club in a bid to make it to the £32,000 championship final at Little Aston later this summer.

But he maintains a relaxed stance on his career having not picked up a golf club until the age of 18 under the tutelage of his father.

Before his golfing rise Clews was a keen footballer who had had trials with Crewe Alexandra but was planning for a career in the hospitality industry.

“It’s been a bit of a change,” the third year assistant admitted. “I was actually studying for a degree in business at Exeter University before starting my career in golf.

“I was a keen footballer but as soon as I picked up a golf club I was bitten by the bug. I got my handicap down quite quickly and decided to turn it into a career.

“I feel like I did have a bit of a natural flair for it, but I’m also very stubborn and so was determined to keep going out there and practicing to make sure I got better.

“I’m quite a relaxed person so I’m quite open to where golf will take me in the future, but I do know that I’m really enjoying what I’m doing now and working at Shifnal has been great.”

Clews is feeling confident ahead of the qualifier having had the privilege of a round with a group of members in the run up to the big event.

“They were talking me round the course which was really helpful,” he explained. “It’s not too long but the big thing they told me was to have a real look at the greens as they slope off in all directions.

“I’m lucky at Shifnal that the head pro gives me plenty of chance to go off and play, and I hope to develop that side of things over the course of this year.

“But I’d love to qualify for the final of this event and I’m playing well so I’m confident I can do it.”

Other players competing in the regional qualifier at Coventry include: Oliver Booth (Scraptoft), Robert Clayton (Collingtree Park), Katrina Gani (Shirley), Tom James (Cosby), Fred Jewsbury (Stratford on Avon), Adam Keogh (Spalding) and Nigel Randle (Nuneaton).