Charity Skins Match a success for Kedleston Park
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Parkland layout Kedleston Park in Derbyshire saw over 300 spectators take to the course on Friday 28th March to cheer on four current and former players in a Skins Match in aid of charity.
The Club welcomed back former Head professional and European Tour Committee member and European Senior Tour Chairman DJ Russell as well as 2013 European Senior Tour Order of Merit winner Paul Wesselingh. While current Head Professional and 2013 Lombard Trophy winner Ian Walley and 2013 McEvoy Trophy winner, Bradley Moore complete the quartet of players.
The match, which was played over 12 holes, was refereed by Kedleston Park General Manager and 2014 Ryder Cup Referee, Robert Simpson and while it was Paul Wesselingh who set the early pace with an eagle three on the par 5 first hole, it was resident professional Ian Walley who took charge of proceedings from the second.
Winning his first skin on the challenging par 4 second hole, Walley’s birdies at the fourth, fifth and eighth holes were matched by DJ and then Bradley Moore, before the current Head Professional rolled in a birdie putt on the par 4 ninth hole to secure 7 skins and all but seal the match.
The event provided a fantastic exhibition of golf with players associated with Kedleston Park from the past, present and future and it was 16-year-old Bradley Moore who hit the shot of the day, an uphill 165-yard bunker shot at the testing par 4 ninth hole. The young England amateur golfer then went on to record impressive birdies at both the tenth and eleventh holes to win his first, and successive, skins of the day.
The twelfth and final hole was fittingly halved with each player winning funds for the charities of their choice, as well as Club Captain, Chris Nye’s Charity, Parkinson’s Society. With £50 up for grabs on each of the first 3 holes, £100 on holes 4-6, £150 on holes 7-9 and £200 from holes 10-12 – over £1,500 was raised for worthy causes and Ian Walley was presented with a cheque for £450 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.
Ian Neal, Kedleston Park Chairman, said “The event was designed to mark the success of 2013; the most successful year in the clubs history. We were delighted to welcome both DJ and Paul back to the club for what was a thoroughly enjoyable day for members, guests and visitors. It was fantastic to see so many people on the fairways supporting the event and to know that in both Ian and Bradley, the future of our club is in safe hands.”
The event, the first of it’s kind since 1995, which saw DJ Russell, David Gilford, Peter Baker and a young Lee Westwood take to the course, was staged to mark a milestone year for the Derbyshire Club, with Wesselingh, Walley and Moore all collecting silverware on their travels in 2013. Bradley Moore, became one of the youngest ever winners of the McEvoy Trophy, while Ian Walley won the coveted Lombard Trophy for the second year running as well the PGA Pro-Captain Challenge. Wesselingh won the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship, Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open, Fubon Senior Open as well as MCB Tour Championship on his way to securing the European Senior Tour Order of Merit title.
Set in the grounds of Kedleston Hall, Kedleston Park Golf Club is a mature parkland championship golf course and offers a competitive, but friendly and welcoming, environment for golfers of all levels.
For further information on Kedleston Park, please visit www.kedlestonparkgolfclub.co.uk, email generalmanager@kedlestonparkgolfclub.co.uk or call 01332 840035.