The 2017 season has come to a close, so as is my custom, time for a write up of the season
My year started in Spain with a trip abroad with my coach Rich Scarrott; from here I moved onto my good friend Jerry, where I stayed for another 10 days in Spain with his family.
I love visiting Jerry, Moni and the girls they always make me feel so welcome and I get to meet back up with the Torreblanca Golf Society which is always a highlight of trip for me meeting back up and chatting to guys about their golf
Season kicks off as always first stage qualifying at The Players Club for me to get my tour card on EuroPro Tour and with rounds of 71 + 72 (+1) I was safely through to final stage. (see my results here)
My first tournament of the year see me head of to Close House Newcastle where after a day one 66 (-5) I found myself the first round leader.
Great experience for me to find myself in this position, getting interviewed by the tour and all the messages of support for the rest of the comp. And although a missed cut followed it set me up for a great season ahead.
Read my interview on the EuroPro Tour Website
As the year progressed I was playing some great golf, but just couldn’t seem to get anything low enough to be in contention. The pleasing thing was my golf so very consistent now where in the past I maybe lacked the solid golf for the whole tournament.
Charity Golf
I’m very proud to be the Macmillan Golf Ambassador for Wiltshire. This was my second year and we managed to help raise some funds from my golf activities. You can check out how much money we raised and still make a contribution. Just Giving Page 1 & Page 2
Here’s a pic of Steve, me and the team after completing the Macmillan long day challenge 72 holes of golf in one day!
The next challenge was first stage Open qualifying held at Remedy Oak one of my favourite courses to play.
Luckily I’m not very superstitious as my group was unlucky for some number 13 – I played great, really solid golf and returned a score of 71 (-1) under par.
After waiting around all day this got me into a play off and when I holed my birdie putt on the very first extra hole I was through to the final stage of qualifying for the Open itself.
Straight from here and full of confidence I headed back up to Newcastle to play Longhirst Hall on the EuroPro Tour, 2 solid rounds of 71 + 72 and the cut was made and I was playing the Friday (payday)
In August I played on the TP Tour for the very first time at St Pierre Golf Club in Wales, long, tight course with very slick fast greens made scoring difficult. I scored a 73 (+1) for the comp and was leading the tournament!
In the end this score was only bettered by two other players and I found myself in a tie for 3rd place my highest finish in a pro tournament
My season was coming to an end just as I was finding great form and consistent scoring, this was a near miss but was all adding up to a great finish
My final tournament of the year was playing the Jamega Tour at Hamptwoth Golf Club and what a great end to the playing year.
Starting with a -1 under in the Pro-Am I then shot back to back under par rounds of 68 + 67 for a tournament total of -7. Top of the leaderboard with one group remaining on the course did see me eventually get pushed back again to a 3rd place finish
But what a year, another season on EuroPro Tour, two 3rd place finishes, final qualifying for the Open, it all just makes me more determined in 2018 to make the breakthrough in achieving more cuts and playing well enough to enter the main European Tour school.
I am always grateful for all the help and support from many people throughout the year, with out your help my journey would be even harder than it is, so I thank you all so much for all your support it is massively appreciated. Here’s a shout out for you
Sponsors
Duncan Spence – Rickety Bridge, huge thank you to Duncan not only for his help in sponsorship but the events I am invited to, the introductions that you have made, and the doors that have been opened whilst I am representing you and your companies,
Mark Keenan – Divorce Online the guy who approached me when I was still a junior golfer and told me then if I ever turn professional golfer to see him first as he would like to help out. True to his word here we are now with me playing as a professional golfer with Marks backing and I’m very proud to be representing Divorce Online everywhere I go
Cath, Mark, Neil, Pete, Guy and everyone at Kingsland Drinks, again all your help is massively appreciated, I really enjoy meeting up with you guys at all the various events you are involved with.
Mark Marais and the team at Chaka Travel for all my clothing, shoes and accessories for the 2017 season
Heike & Ian from Lookers. and Leo Callow from Callow Events for all your support and invites throughout the year to some fantastic golf events and charity days
Supporters
Steve Macey who set up SMM Sports Management with my dad and helps to control my finances / budgets from sponsors to entry fees, travelling costs etc
Tracey Lee and the Manners family – Manager and owners of Wrag Barn Golf Club who allow me to use the club and all its facilities and give me the honour of representing the club every time I play on tour – also thank you to all the members and rest of the staff at Wrag Barn who support me
Steve King working endlessly on my web-site keeping everything up to date, all results and reports for everyone to read
Rich Scarrott my coach since I was 14 years old who has coached me from a junior golfer to now playing on the EuroPro Tour one of the biggest tours in Europe as a professional golfer
Ian Ridsdale Director of golf at Wrag Barn for all his help with equipment and and anything I need from the Pro Shop
Finally my Mum, Dad, family and friends for all your continued support – always there for me when I’m back from events, and all the messages I receive whilst I’m travelling away from home it really means a lot.
I hope you all also had a great 2017
Thank you
Matt
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