Garrick Porteous is looking to make a strong finish to his European Challenge Tour campaign, starting at this week’s Volopa Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort.
The Englishman is returning to a happy hunting ground in Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, where the 26 year old sealed a top five spot last season in the competition’s inaugural staging.
The former Amateur Champion came close to a maiden European Challenge Tour victory in Egypt earlier this year, and also smashed the course record at Penati Golf Resort in Slovakia after a sensational final round of 61 in July.
Now the University of Tennessee graduate, who is currently in 50th place on the 2016 Road to Oman, is aiming to rise up the rankings during the business end of the season.
“It’s good to be back,” he said. “I have good memories from last year. It is a nice course, with a nice hotel and nice surroundings.
“The course seems to suit my game. The rough is up this week, which is normally a good thing, and you have to hit it straight and take advantage when you have opportunities.
“There was nice weather last year, and it is meant to be the same again, so fingers crossed. Overall, it is just a really nice week and I am looking forward to it.”
Porteous, who has made the cut in eight of the 14 events he has played in 2016, is confident that he has the game to compete in the seven remaining events this year – which are some of the most lucrative on Europe’s top developmental tour.
“It has been a bit up and down this year really,” he said. “I just need to get my head in the right place. It will be my third week in a row and I am hoping to finish strongly this year.
“I am after a big week before I have a couple of weeks off. After that, I will regroup before the last big six weeks of the season where anyone can get into the top 15. You just need to give yourself a chance as anything can happen then.
“I feel like my chances are pretty high and that I can compete after a few top tens this year. It is all about getting that first win then getting that confidence, and you can go on from there.”
The Morpeth man, who was a team mate of current Road to Oman Rankings Number One Jordan Smith at the Walker Cup in 2013, admits the impressive performances of his compatriots this year have filled him with confidence.
“To see guys winning who you’ve have grown up playing golf with does help,” he said. “I know them really well and we hang out afterwards, so it does give you confidence when they are doing well. I just have to jump on the bandwagon with them!”
