Kenwick Park golfer Ashton Turner targets European Tour place

Ashton Turner is hoping to take on some of golf's biggest names next year after easing his way into the penultimate round of qualifying for the European Tour.
Kenwick Pak golfer Ashton Turner (left) is bidding to join some of the world's top golfers on the European Tour EMN-161024-104030002Kenwick Pak golfer Ashton Turner (left) is bidding to join some of the world's top golfers on the European Tour EMN-161024-104030002
Kenwick Pak golfer Ashton Turner (left) is bidding to join some of the world's top golfers on the European Tour EMN-161024-104030002

The Kenwick Park golfer turned professional in September and came through the first stage of qualifying school last week.

After four rounds, Turner finished joint-third at Frilford Heath to comfortably book his place in the next round at the Lumine Golf and Beach Club, near Barcelona, starting on Friday, November 4.

“The standard will get better and better at every stage, but I played well all week,” Turner said.

“I didn’t putt brilliantly but did enough to get through.”

In Spain he will join a 100-strong international field all vying for a top 20 finish and a place in the Tour School final which will take place a week later at the PGA Catalunya Resort.

There the top 25 players and ties will earn a coveted European Tour card, while the rest of the finalists will gain a place on the second tier Challenge Tour.

“The main aim is to get on the European Tour as quickly as I can so I’d like to do that straightaway,” he added.

“There’s a lot of competition, but at the end of the day, someone’s go to do it so I’ve just got to hope I have a good week and it’s me.”

The decision to take the plunge and make golfing his full-time career was the culmination of a terrific few seasons.

The 20-year-old from Alford represented the England men’s team this year and in August won the individual prize at the Home Internationals.

Turner said: “I was thinking about turning pro all year and I was going to the European Tour School anyway so thought I might as well.

“Since I was about five I set my aims to be not just a tour pro, but also the best golfer in the world.

“It is a long road, but it’s been the goal all of my life.

“This is just the first step, but it’s nice that everything I have worked for when I was young has all come together.”

He made his pro debut just days after his announcement at the EuroPro Tour Players Championship at Moor Allerton, near Leeds.

And he enjoyed a smooth transition into the pro ranks, putting himself into contention going into the final round on his way to a tied-fourth finish.

“The first event went well and I was in the last group for the final round,” he added.

“I had a six foot putt at the last and was trying to take my mind off the situation, but I started counting how much the putt was worth which was the worst thing I could have done!

“A lot of my mates turned pro last year and I’ve met a few guys on the Challenge Tour and they’ve talked me through the ins and outs - you need a little bit of help at the start.”

There is, however, one down side to the change in status.

Having helped Kenwick Park into the finals of the Mail on Sunday Club Classic he will not be allowed to play.

But he will make the trip to Spain to cheer on his team-mates when the competition gets under way on November 20.

“Kenwick Park have been great and it’s a privilege to represent the club,” he added. “They are doing everything they can for me.”

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