Horne Park’s George Groves who claimed the first EDGA Dubai title played at the DP World Tour Championship, in November. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

EUROPEAN Disabled Golfers Association members George Groves and Brendan Lawlor are all set for their European Tour debut in May.

They will join forces in a European Tour first when they tee it up at the innovative GolfSixes Cascais, which returns to Oitavos Dunes Golf Club, from May 9-10.

Groves, who is a member at Surrey’s Horne Park Golf Club, and Lawlor, from Ireland, will be paired together in the competitive matchplay format.

They will form the inaugural EDGA Team, as one of four wildcard selections making up the field.

George Groves who will represent the EDGA at GolfSixes Cascais, at Oitavos Dunes. Picture by EUROPEAN DISABLED GOLFERS ASSOCIATION

“To be able to tee it up and play against the Tour professionals is exactly what inclusivity is all about.”

GEORGE GROVES – Word No. 1 disabled golfer

The announcement continues the European Tour’s commitment to inclusivity and innovation with its ground-breaking approach to Golfers with Disability,

It also marks the first time golfers from the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) will compete alongside European Tour professionals in a regular season event.

The 2020 GolfSixes Cascais will follow the same format as the 2019 edition, with four wildcard teams – featuring stars from male and female golf – joining 12 other two-man teams of European Tour players representing their home nations.

Groves, the current No. 1 on the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability, won the inaugural EDGA Dubai finale in November last year.

The 36-hole event took place alongside the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

That was the second EDGA event which took place in conjunction with a Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

Groves, a graduate of Dennis Pugh’s Golf College in Sussex, finished second to Lawlor at the EDGA Scottish Open – held during the weekend of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, in July.

And now the pair will partner together in Portugal as they prepare to take on 15 other teams competing over six holes in the greensomes format.

“I’m looking forward to competing in the European Tour’s GolfSixes in Cascais,” said Groves, who suffers from Erbs Palsy, which leaves him with around 20 per cent of normal movement.

“To be able to tee it up and play against the Tour professionals is exactly what inclusivity is all about.

“I’m excited to represent all players with a disability alongside Brendan and we hope to do them proud,” added the winner of the inaugural English Disability Open, last year.

Lawlor, currently ranked No. 4 in the world, added: “Last year I watched the GolfSixes tournament and now I have the opportunity to represent all golfers with a disability in Cascais, which is absolutely amazing.

“It will be great to stand on the tee with George and compete alongside the Tour professionals, men and women, knowing that we are showcasing how inclusive our game is for everyone.”

Brendan, who attended the Darren Clarke Golf Academy in Northern Irelnad, suffers from Ellis–van Creveld syndrome, characterised by a shorter stature and shorter limbs.

Ground-breaking GolfSixes format

GOLFSIXES has revolutionised the game with the ability to offer wildcard selections to a variety of golfers from all walks of the game.

Previously the event included a ‘Captains Team’ which featured 2018 European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn and 2019 Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, who were the first male and female professionals to play together in a competitive matchplay format.

“We are thrilled to have George and Brendan competing against European Tour professionals for the first time and to ultimately showcase their talents on the world stage.

European Tour chief executive KEITH PELLEY

It has also hosted a ‘European Women’s Team’ featuring the Ladies European Tour winner Mel Reid and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda as well as a ‘German Women’s Team’ featuring Esther Henseleit and Laura Fuenfstueck.

Former Women’s British Open Georgia Hall, from Dorset, and Woburn’s Charley Hull in 2018, have played twice in GolfSixes, while Wellingboro’s Meghan MacLaren and Lancashire’s Florentyna Parker made up a second England team in 2019.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “GolfSixes is the perfect opportunity for us to champion new ideas and innovate – not just in terms of a different format, but to bring a different form of entertainment from a golf perspective.

“We are thrilled to have George and Brendan competing against European Tour professionals for the first time and to ultimately showcase their talents on the world stage.

“As golf’s global Tour, two of our core values are innovation and inclusivity, and GolfSixes fits perfectly into both of those genres.

“The EDGA Scottish Open and the EDGA Dubai Finale were an immense success for all involved.

“It is fantastic we can reward our inaugural winners in George and Brendan with the opportunity to compete at GolfSixes in Portugal.

“It’s a natural progression and I think the potential for GolfSixes in terms of the overall brand and format is terrific.”

Lawlor turned professional last year, however with Groves remaining an amateur he is unable to claim winnings from the tournament.

The European Tour and the players have agreed to donate the team’s prize money from the event to the EDGA.

Tour chiefs have sought and received approval from The R&A to do so under the Rules of Amateur Status, to help encourage more people with disability to try golf.

European Disabled Golfers Association president Tony Bennett said: “We are thrilled to have George and Brendan representing the inaugural EDGA Team at GolfSixes Cascais this May.

“It is a natural fit for this event to highlight golfers with a disability considering how inclusive and innovative the previous tournaments have been, and we are excited about the possibilities ahead.

“It is an incredible opportunity for our EDGA golfers to compete alongside European Tour professionals for the first time, and we can’t wait to see the rest of the field take shape in the coming weeks.”

•You can learn more about the work of the European Disabled Golfers Association and how to get involved by clicking here.

The 2019 GolfSixes winners Thongchai Jaidee (left) and Phachara Khongwatmai, from Thailand at Oitavos Dunes, in Cascais in Portugal. Picture courtesy of EUROPEAN TOUR

Thailand took title in sudden-death

THAILAND defeated England in a nearest the pin play-off to win the 2019 GolfSixes Cascais and make European Tour history at Oitavos Dunes.

Phachara Khongwatmai and Thongchai Jaidee were tied at 1-1 after six holes in the final against Tom Lewis and Paul Waring, with another trip up the sixth unable to separate the teams.

That meant the event would go down to nearest the pin in the final for the first time in its three-year history, and it was Khongwatmai – 29 years his team-mate’s junior at just 20 years old – who hit his tee shot to concession range out to claim the win.

The tournament returns to Portugal for the second year next door to the Atlantic and only 20 minutes from the capital, Cascais – a village with approximately 210,000 inhabitants.

The city is proud to host GolfSixes, a partnership of the Municipality of Cascais, the European Tour and the Event/Media agency U.COM – which stages the annual Millennium Estoril Open, an ATP Tennis Championship, in the same region.

Oitavos Dunes has hosted the Open de Portugal on four occasions, first in 2005 when Paul Broadhurst emerged victorious, and then in three years in succession in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Those events were won by Pablo Martin Benavides, Grégory Bourdy and Michael Hoey respectively.

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Horne Park GC member George Groves was crowned EDGA champion in Dubai.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

WORLD No. 1 George Groves held off the challenge of America’s Chad Pfeifer to win the inaugural European Disabled Golf Association finale in Dubai.

The 36-hole event featured some of the world’s best Golfers with Disability and was taking place alongside the European Tour’s season ending DP World Tour Championship.

The Surrey golfer has Erb’s Palsy, a condition which leaves him with 20 per cent strength in his left arm after a medical accident during birth.

But that has not stopped the Horne Park GC member from rising to the top of the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability.

An opening 77 handed him a three-shot lead and it looked like Groves might run away with things when he birdied the first in round two.

Military man Pfeifer took up golf after having his leg blown off in Iraq serving for the US Army’s 3rd Airborne Battalion.

And the 2011 US National Amputee Golf Champion applied some pressure as he carded the lowest round of the day with a 79.

But Groves went on to sign for an 82 and finish 15-over – three shots clear of Pfeifer at Jumeirah Golf’s Earth Course,

“It’s fantastic,” said Groves. “I’m going to go home very proud of myself, celebrate with my friends and family. It will be really good.

“This tour has really changed my life. I think it’s just changed me as a person, changed me as a golfer.

“I’m just really happy that I’ve actually managed to get into stuff like that,” said Groves who won the English Disability Open at Stoke-by-Nayland GC, in September.

“It’s really good to get us involved and on TV and to show other people with disabilities to get more into golf and, instead of lounging around at home, be confident in themselves and get out there and show what you can do.

“When I was younger I was a footballer and I was told to do exercise for my arm. My parents said ‘do golf.’ I went to the range one day and I thought this could be something so I took golf up.

“To come out and win this, be World No. 1, is just incredible,” added Groves. I’m pretty sure I’ve 100 per cent done the right choice.”

It was the second EDGA event taking place in conjunction with a Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

Groves finished second to Brendan Lawlor at the EDGA Scottish Open, held during the weekend of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, at North Berwick’s The Renassiance GC, in July.

American Christopher Biggins finished at 20-over, with Frenchman Charles-Henri Quélin, Irishman Lawlor, Australian Geoff Nicholas and Swede Joakim Bjorkman rounding out the field.

•To see video highlights from the EDGA final click here.

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Horne Park’s George Groves went one better in this year’s Disability Open at Stoke by Nayland, beating Duncan Hamilton-Martin, from Weybridge’s St George’s Hill by a shot.
Picture by LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

WORLD No.1 George Groves claimed his first title on home soil when he beat a strong international field in blustery but dry conditions in the 2019 English Disability Open staged over Stoke by Nayland’s Gainsborough course.

Groves, from Surrey’s Horne Park Golf Club, carded rounds of 77 and 74 to claim a five-shot victory over veteran competitor Duncan Hamilton-Martin, from Weybridge’s St George’s Hill.

Groves’ rival finished on seven-over par with Woking’s Ami Bullock taking third place a further four shots behind to make it a one-two-three for Surrey with Oxfordshire’s Andrew Gardiner, from Kirtlington GC, a further shot back in fourth.

The victory made up for the disappointment of being pipped to the title 12 months ago by Beardsall Priory’s Michael Horsley at The Warwickshire.

And it should also earn Groves a place in the field for the disability event being run in tandem with the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, in November.

“It was great to get my first English title under the belt,” said new champion Groves. “There’s a lot of competition out there for my World No. 1 slot and hopefully this is enough to secure my place to Dubai.

“I really loved the course and the competitors here at Stoke by Nayland and am really happy with the result.”

The English Disability Open, which was part of the England Golf championships calendar for the first time, was open to players who are eligible for the World Rankings for Golfers with a disability (WR4GD).

It attracted 42 male and female competitors from across Britain, France and The Netherlands, including new players Ellie Perks, from Worcestershire’s Hagley GC, and Cheshire’s George Blackshaw, from Delamere Forest GC.

During the competition there were other winners for the nett and Stableford categories

The Shropshire’s Tony Lloyd finished on one-under par to win the handicap prize for players off 20 or less after carding a nett total of 143.

In the Stableford competition for players off more than 20, Llanwern’s Kevin Cook recorded rounds of 34 and 29 points to win the title by two points with his total of 63 points.

The presentations were made by John Williams, past president of England Golf, and Susanna Rendall, director of Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa.

England Golf’s inclusion manager Jamie Blair said: “This event truly shows that golf and the handicap system focusses on your ability as a golfer and not your disability.

“Stoke by Nayland have been fantastic hosts and I would like to say thank you to the management, staff, members and volunteers who have embraced this event, creating a welcoming environment for players new and experienced and making it a huge success.

“I would also like to say thank you to our referees and to the R&A for their support.

“Without them, we would not be able to run a championship that showcases the game at the highest level of competition for golfers with a disability in England.”

For full scores click here.

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