Darren's on Wright course
Darren Wright looked ahead to the domestic amateur curtain-raiser at Blackmoor this Saturday and declared: I'm ready.
The Rowlands Castle player, 20, has been busy putting in the hard yards over the winter, refining his swing with Eng-land coach Alan Thompson.
It's involved regular trips to Manchester and hours of practice.
Now he's ready to tackle a stellar field and contest the Selborne Salver at the Bordon course against the likes of England's Sam Hutsby – from Lee-on-the-Solent – Dale Whitnell and Luke Goddard.
Hayling's Mark Thistleton and Toby Burden are also in the line-up.
Wright, an England under-21 international and former Carris Trophy winner, can't wait for the battle to commence in an event which has world ranking points at stake.
He said: 'It's a local event and there are always quite a few of my friends from Hamp-shire and from the England set-up playing.
'It's a nice one to win – you get a lot of respect from your county team.
'Plus, it's always good to beat your mates!
'I played a county match at Blackmoor on Sunday – 36 holes, so that was a really nice practice for the Salver.
'I played well, didn't score as well as I would have liked and missed a few putts, but hopefully I can put that right this weekend.
'The course was looking good. I'm confident.'
He added: 'A couple of years ago when I came up from junior golf to men's golf I wasn't really confident but now I know a lot of the players. I think that helps.
'I turned up a couple of years ago and I was a little bit excited, a bit nervous and intimidated by it all.
'But now I see the usual faces and I know which ones are good and which ones I can beat.'
Wright will also be playing the prestigious Hampshire Hog at North Hants Golf Club on Sunday, looking to etch his name on the winners' list next to the club's most famous son, Justin Rose.
And he feels his game is ready for the challenge.
'I am hitting my driver and irons pretty well,' he said.
'I've been working on my swing for the past two or three months – everything's coming together nicely.
'It's time to see if all the things you work on make you a better player.'
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
