Support greenkeepers for BMW PGA Championship unveiled

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The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has unveiled the volunteers who have been selected to join the ‘Support Team’ for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The greenkeepers will be on hand to assist director of golf courses and estates, Kenny Mackay, and his team, throughout the European Tour’s flagship event in late May.

A selection of the team has been chosen to help out with early morning course work and preparation in advance of each day’s play, while the remainder will be on hand to accompany each individual match throughout the tournament.

They will also be on standby in case of emergencies, such as was the case in 2017, when Tony Bartram, greenkeeper at The Richmond Golf Club in West London and amateur beekeeper, was called into action to remove a swarm of bees that had settled on the 18^th fairway prior to the final day’s play.

Tony will be joining the team again this year and said that when he saw Kenny at BTME in Harrogate, he made sure to mention that he would be bringing along his beekeeping equipment, just in case.

Tony said: “It’s such a great experience. I used to pay to watch the tournament every year, so if you could say to my 17-year-old self that I’d get to go inside the ropes with the players to provide greenkeeping assistance, I would have leapt at the opportunity.

“In England there’s really only two big tournaments that regularly take place, the PGA every year and the Open every couple of years, so the opportunity to be a part of that experience, you can’t beat it. I just love everything about the whole week.”

The BIGGA Support Team for the BMW PGA Championship 2018 is:

David Angus, Newmachar;                          

Bradley Ashton, Prestbury;     

Russell Bain, Chislehurst;                            

Andrew Baker, Ely City;

Graham Baker, Horam Park;                       

Adam Baldwin, Lilley Brook;

David Ball, Thetford;                                    

Tony Bartram, The Richmond;       

Mark Bettell, The Rayleigh;                         

Iain Biggs, Chesfield Downs;           

Samuel Bishop, Corhampton;                     

Samuel Bolt, Huntercombe;            

Robert Boyce, Links (Newmarket);                        

Aaron Buff, Queenwood;                 

Harry Carvey, Heworth;                              

Tom Coleman, Ellesborough;          

Charlie Cripps, Wickham Park;                   

Joe Curtis, Chislehurst;                    

Stephen Davey, Queenwood;                      

Ashley Darnley, The Bristol;            

Jeffrey Drake, Newbury & Crookham;  

Anthony Duffield, Ham Manor;      

Josh Dunn, The Belfry;                                

Glenn Dyer, Huntercombe;             

Michael Elderfield, Sandy Lodge;               

Daniel Evans, Llandudno (Maesdu);

Sam Evans, Fulwell;                                     

Sam Ewing, Crane Valley;                

Ceri Fearnley, The Bristol;                           

Martin Field, Buckinghamshire;     

Joseph Frampton, Pyle & Kenfig;               

Dean Franks, Littlehampton;          

Andrew Gibbs, Sunningdale;                      

Luke Green, Littlehampton;                        

Lee Hall, Hampstead;                                   

David Haselgrave, Ely City;             

Luke Harman, St George’s Hill;                   

Kevin Hensman, Rowlands Castle;

Steven Hirons, Kirtlington;                          

Oliver Kirk, Links (Newmarket);    

James Lomas, Hadley Wood;  

Matthew Mackenzie, Ellesborough;

Michael Mead, Littlehampton;                    

Peter Meek, The Wisley;                  

Jamie Melham, Highwoods;                         

Chris Mitchell, Retired;                    

Brett Moggridge, Kirtlington;                      

Ryan Neale, Droitwich;                    

Edward Parsloe, Minchinhampton;           

Robert Patrick, Stoneham;              

Johnathan Peacock, Ullesthorpe Court;     

Blair Shearer, Dunbar;                    

Jason Shepherd, Hendon;                           

William Simmonds, Roehampton;  

David Smith, Links (Newmarket);              

Philip Slater, West Herts;                

Gemma St. John, Brokenhurst Manor;       

David Taylor, Thornbury Golf Centre;

Kevin Tigg, South Winchester;                   

Kevin Weller, Mid Kent.                  

Ryan Wilson, Mill Green;                             

Craig Woodman, Bramshaw;          

Adam Young, The Players Club.