Beaty bidding for the big time

MARTIN BEATY, Crompton and Royton’s assistant professional, is heading to Australia next month in a bid to hit the big time.

The 28-year-old will be aiming to qualify for the Johnny Walker Classic and line up alongside many of the world’s top golfers.

Beaty is exempt until the final qualifier at Cottesloe Golf Club by virtue of him being a member of the Australian PGA.

It will still be a big ask for Beaty to qualify as he will be battling for one of only four qualifying spots from a field which could be as high as 80.

But, if he is successful, Beaty will be participate in the event at Vines Country Club, Perth, between February 19/22.

Beaty, a former junior at the High Barn club, lived in Royton until his family emigrated when he was 16 years of age.

The former pupil from Crompton House School became a fully-qualified professional in Australia after passing a three-year PGA course in 2004.

He returned here for the next two summers to try to qualify for the Open, which he failed to do, and compete in other tournaments.

It was a costly exercise and Beaty, who was lucky to gain sponsorship from Boundary Garage, also spent time working as a barman at the Halfway House in Royton to raise the money to compete in tournaments.

Twenty months ago Beaty decided it would be best to be based here to pursue his golfing career and he is assistant to Dave Melling at Crompton and Royton.

He is also spending time teaching and has helped 12 of the club’s youngsters pass an exam organised by English Golf Union following a 10-week course.

CROMPTON and Royton members beat the freeze as they staged a team Stableford played over 15 holes.

The winners, with a score of 84 points, were Kris Sutcliffe, Jason Webster, Alistair Cameron and Mark Robinson.

They finished well clear of Tim O’Brien, Steve Ashurst, Ian Heggie and Dave Bacon who amassed 80 points.

Third place, with 79, went to Peter Wright, Reuben Rogers, Ray Griffiths and Paul Crowshaw.

Joint leaders of the Winter League after two events are O’Brien, Heggie, Ashurst and Robert Calow who each have accumulated 12 points.

STAMFORD’S 12-hole betterball Stableford was won by Robin Furness and Chris Houfe with 33 points, one clear of Colin Clarke and Roy Cunningham.