GOLF: Loughrey eyes more success (From Swindon Advertiser)

GOLF: Loughrey eyes more success

6:00am Monday 21st May 2012 in Golf

WRAG Barn golfer Ben Loughrey is hoping his impressive performance for England against France will prove the turning point in his stuttering season.

The two countries met at Rochester and Cobham Park in Kent last weekend, with England coming out 15-9 victors.

But the tie was still in the balance as Loughrey approached the final holes of his singles match with Lionel Weber, and the Englishman drew level with three to play before winning the final two holes to record a stunning victory an maintain his unbeaten singles record.

By his own admission the 23-year-old has made a slow start to his year, which included playing five tournaments in Australia, but is determined to put that behind him now with the prestigious British Amateur Championships coming up next month.

“I have made a slow start to 2012 and lost quite a bit of confidence in Australia where my short game went downhill,” the former winner of the prestigious Lee Westwood Trophy admitted.

“We had no coaching down there for four to five weeks and I began to struggle.

“But I have since spent some time working with my dad (former Wrag Barn professional Barry Loughrey) and Graham Walker, the head coach of the England team and I have got some good things to work on.

“It is the Welsh Open Strokeplay Championships next week and a big month coming up, the pinnacle being the British Amateur Championships at Royal Troon starting on June 20.

“The aim is definitely to win one of the major tournaments.

“On top of that, I will be trying my hardest to be selected for the European Team Championship and the Eisenhower Trophy for England, before representing GB&I in the St Andrews Trophy.”

Loughrey also scored a point alongside Ashley Chesters in the pair’s foursomes clash with Nicolas Manifacier and Mathieu De, and was pleased with his weekend’s work.

“It is not as if I was playing badly, but I was three under par through eight holes and still three down in the singles match,” he said.

“But I kept playing solid golf and my opponent started to get a bit tight.

“I was determined to get the win because it maintained my unbeaten record in singles for England.

“It was also great to win a foursomes point with Ashley, who was earning his first England cap. We are really good friends and spent six weeks playing together in Australia at the start of the year.”