UKKO Tour Ambassador James Busby (pictured wearing Midnight Blue “Maddox” Polo) has booked his place on next season’s Challenge Tour after winning the biggest event of the 2011 PGA EuroPro Tour season, the 888poker.com Tour Championships at the Intercontinental Mar Menor Golf Resort in Murcia, Spain.
James’s ability, hard work and determination have paid off as he won the £15,000 first prize and finishes 2nd on the EuroPro order of merit… which gives him automatic promotion to the European Challenge Tour for 2012.
Congratualtions from all of us at UKKO, we look forward to seeing you compete at the next level along with the other UKKO Challenge Tour Ambassadors Matt Cryer, Jack Doherty and Matthew Southgate.
You can see coverage of James’s last tournament – the 888Poker.com Tour Championships in Mar Menor, Spain – on Sky:
26th October 2011:
- 10am – Sky Sports 2
- 2pm – Sky Sports 2
- 8pm – Sky Sports 4
- 2.30am – Sky Sports 3
Amateur Ambassador Alex Collman recently played a sunny Carnoustie, after competing in the Eden Trophy at St Andrews the week before. Alex is wearing an Amparo Blue “Finsbury” V-neck, Optic White “Vigo” Polo and Black “Titanium” Belt
If you have any photo’s wearing UKKO, send them to us and we’ll get them on the blog…
UKKO Tour Ambassador Matthew Cryer made a superb start to the Challenge Tour event at the Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana yesterday. A faultless 64 put him in a superb Top 5 position with 3 rounds to go.
Matthew Southgate, currently lying 19th in the order of Merit, also started well with a 4-under par 67.
Jack Doherty also went under par with a round of 70.
Good luck to all 3 for the reminder of the tournament!
James has had a superb season so far and is currently lying 5th on the Euro Pro order of Merit. We caught up with him before he starts his final few tournaments of the season in a bid to gain a full Challenge Tour card for 2012.
Mid-season Update – I’ve had a good season so far with three seconds on Euro Pro – just need another good result and I should secure Challenge Tour next year! There are four events left including Tour Champs with the venue still TBA – hopefully its somewhere nice and warm! I’ve made 8 out of 9 cuts, just missing out last week at Formby
Your tour/home club – Euro Pro Tour / The Shropshire
Handicap and Date when turned Pro – +1.9, August 2004
What’s in your bag (we like details…!)
Driver – Callaway FT9, 9.5 with a Rombax stiff shaft
Woods – Mizuno MP 3wood with Fubuki shaft
Irons – Mizuno MP68’s with extra stiff soft stepped KBS shafts
Putter – Yes Callie Forged
Balls – Titleist Pro V1x
1. Your ultimate 4-ball with anyone past & present? Seve Ballesteros, Ricky Hatton & Hugh Hefner, Oh and me!!
2. Before the big game, what’s on your iPod? ACDC – Back in Black
3. Where would you take them on? Druids Glenn, Ireland
4. What UKKO gear would you be wearing? Lava Red Maddox Polo and White Titanium Belt
5. What’s your fairway style? Focused but still having fun
6. Which club’s first in your bag? The putter!
7. How would you celebrate your win? With a beer or ten
8. 1st and last drink on the 19th? Carling please
9. Your private jet’s on stand-by… where d’you go? The Maldives
10. How has this season been for you so far? Consistent with three 2nds on Euro Pro
11. What are your main goals for the remainder of the season? Continue the good results and secure a Challenge Tour for next year, maybe getting a full Tour card at Tour Scho0l
12. Where do you want to be in 3 years? On the European Tour, competing for wins
13. If golf didn’t exist, what would you be doing? I don’t know what I’d do if golf didn’t exist!
Q&A by UKKO Tour Ambassador Ben Jones..
Your tour/home club - Euro Pro Tour and I represent Betchworth Park Gc/Crownbrush.co.uk
Handicap and Date when turned Pro - +2.4 in march 2007
What’s in your bag (we like details…!)
Driver – Callaway Razr Tour 9.5
Woods – Titleist 910 Fd
Irons – Callaway X forged 3-PW
Putter – Odyssey 2 Ball V Line
Balls -Titleist Pro V1x
1. Your ultimate 4-ball with anyone past & present?
Seve, my dad and my bro
2. Before the big game, what’s on your iPod?
At the moment iv got the Rocky Soundtrack on!
3. Where would you take them on?
Les Bordes or Augusta
4. What UKKO gear would you be wearing?
The Wine Red Crispin polo, White Titanium Belt and White Titanium Cap
5. What’s your fairway style?
Smart
6. Which club’s first in your bag?
Putter
7. How would you celebrate your win?
Beer and lots of it in my “soon to be wife’s bar”
8. 1st and last drink on the 19th?
1st is always a beer, last…….I cant normally remember!!!
9. Your private jet’s on stand-by… where d’you go?
The Maldives (most amazing place in the world)
10. How has this season been for you so far?
Very Solid but not setting the world on fire, made every cut so far!
11. What are your main goals for the remainder of the season?
Give myself a chance or 2 to win and prepare for Q school
12. Where do you want to be in 3 years?
I’d love to have my tour card
13. If golf didn’t exist, what would you be doing?
Earning money!!!
There’s no doubting UKKO Tour Ambassador Matthew Southgate has had a brilliant 1st year as a Professional.. he’s currently lying 22nd on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.
A top 20 spot by the end of the year will earn him a place on the European Tour in only his 2nd season as a Pro. We urge you to follow his progress, big things are on the horizon. A few shots of him on course recently are below in the following gear;
- Palace Blue “Avery” Polo
- Racing Green “Vigo” Polo
- White “Titanium” Belt
- Blueberry “Crispin” Polo
When we received this pic we thought it was a little random. A few guys on the course with Bill Roache from Corrie and Craig Phillips from Big Brother…
But, when we realised it was from Oli Willson, the Celebrity Manager at Sports & Celebrity Agency ChampionsUK, it all seemed to make a little more sense. We’re sure there were some tales to tell, even though it’s possibly the most bizarre 4-ball posted on our blog to date!
Either way, we like the fact he was already out-smarting his opponents by wearing a Blueberry “Crispin” Polo.
Ericsson were one of the key sponsors at the 2011 Ray Wilkins Charity Golf Day at Foxhills GC supporting the Starlight Children’s Charity. Joining UKKO Amateur Ambassador Malcolm Glen in UKKO were ex-fottballers Steve Coppell and Neil Cox.
Malcolm’s team of Steve Coppell, Steve Haines and Mick Wayman came 3rd overall (out of 33) and were definitely the best dressed!!
As you can see from the pictures below, the teams were wearing our Palace Blue “Avery” and Wine Red “Crispin” polo’s.
