Dans double up for Staffordshire victory

Dan Greenwood (left) with Danny Walsh.

Dan Greenwood turned the clock back four years when he won the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship Midlands qualifying event.

It was the first time the Forest Pines Golf Club professional had made it to the grand final since 2013, the same year he won the PGA Professional Championship.

Greenwood teamed up with new playing partner Danny Walsh of Waterfront Golf Limited for the event held at The Staffordshire Golf Club.

And they produced a seven under par round of 64 at the Dudley course to win by one shot ahead of the Derbyshire pairing of James Whatley (Morley Hayes Golf Club) and Ian Walley (Kedleston Park Golf Club) who finished fourth in last year’s final at Carden Park.

Also tied for second spot on six under par were Olivia Raybould and John Cheetham of Three Hammers Golf Complex in Wolverhampton.

They were among the eight pairs who now go forward to the £33,000, BMW supported, PGA Fourball Championship final which takes place at Whittlebury Park in Northamptonshire between August 16-18.

And for Greenwood, the result provided a welcome boost in form for the north Lincolnshire-based player whose club used to host the final.

“It was very unexpected for me the way I’ve been playing this year, it’s been terrible so far, but we dovetailed well and had a good day here,” he said.

“But it was all about trying to get into the final, the last time I was there was when it was at Forest Pines. I know Danny because he was teaching at Forest Pines for a year and so me and him decided to play and it was our first time together in this event.”

Their round gathered momentum at the start of the back nine with three successive birdies.

“Danny’s a decent player who shoots some good scores. He was the ‘rock’ here!” smiled Greenwood.

“We felt comfy together and we never dropped a shot which, in betterball, is as key as how many birdies you make. The pressure was off a little bit. I’ve played Whittlebury Park before and know it, but Danny hasn’t played there at all.”