Strathaven duo Stuart Kerr and Jim Preston qualify for Turkey golf tournament

Jul 14 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

A BATTLING duo from Strathaven Golf Club have landed a dream golfing trip to Turkey against the odds.

Professional Stuart Kerr, who has only just recovered from stomach surgery, and captain Jim Preston qualified for the Grand Final of the Lombard Challenge, a PGA Pro-Captain tournament by a single stroke.

The showpiece event, which is held in November at the PGA Sultan Club in Antalya, Turkey, carries with it a £25,000 prize fund.

Stuart and Jim qualified by winning the Scottish Regional qualifier at Crail Golf Club with a 13-under-par round of 56, beating Newmacher pairing Andrew Cooper and Manson Merchant by one shot.

Kerr admits he was surprised but delighted, as he’s gone desperately close to qualifying for the prestigious event in the past.

He said: “I was pleasantly shocked. I underwent a stomach operation in January and I’ve been recovering all year, so I haven’t practised as much as I would have liked since then.

“So it was one of those days when you hope it all comes together and that your captain also has a good round – and that’s what happened.

“When I dropped Jim off that night, he was ecstatic. I was pleased, too, because I’ve been pipped at the post a couple of times in this event.

“When you hit the crossbar like that, it makes you want to win more, but I wasn’t very confident that we could do it this time.”

Kerr and Preston got off to a blistering start, reeling off eight successive birdies and, although it was a tight finish, they never looked back. Kerr added: “We were actually disappointed to make par at the ninth as we wanted to go out in nine under – that would’ve been something special.

“But now we’ve earned our place in Turkey. I’ve spoken to players who had been out there for the final and it sounds like a terrific event, so we can’t wait.

“Jim ends his year as captain in December, so this will be a great way for him to sign off, and it’s a big thing for the club as well.”