Sion Bebb is hoping to go one better than last year at this week’s Morson International Pro-Am Challenge. The Welshman took second place behind Argentina’s Andres Romero at the Marriott Worsley Park Hotel and Country Club 12 months ago, and is determined that he can improve upon that result to lift the first European Challenge Tour title of his career.
Bebb’s final round 66 last season was an outstanding display given the inclement weather conditions and he is looking forward to returning to a venue and lay out where he already performed with distinction.
The Morson International Pro-Am Challenge is a unique event on the Challenge Tour Schedule, with the first two rounds played as a regular strokeplay event before the format switches to a Pro-Am for the last two rounds.
Each professional to make the halfway cut is paired with an Amateur partner for the final 36 holes, with individual amateur prizes on each of the final two rounds with the professionals playing for a prize fund of £100,000.
Bebb would happily pick up the lion’s share of that money as looks to kick start his season and move his way up the Challenge Tour Rankings. The Welshman is currently 121st on the Rankings, but is confident that he can recapture the form that has made him a regular at the Challenge Tour Grand Final – reserved for the top 45 players at the end of the season.
“I could do with getting a bit more money on the board,” said Bebb. “But you can’t worry about it too much at this stage of the season because there is such a long way to go, and I am one of those guys who don’t really get going until we are midway through the season and have a lot of tournaments to play.
“The event at Worsley Park has been good for me, especially last season and I am obviously hoping to go one better this week.
“It’s always good to go back to a place where you have played well before because it does give you a little bit more confidence, knowing that you have performed there in the past. I remember the weather wasn’t to kind to us last season, but the course is excellent and was a good test.
“I actually don’t mind the Pro-Am format as well and am quite used to playing a lot of Pro-Ams from my time in the West Regions. As long as the amateur players realise what we are playing for then they tend stay out of way, which is very kind of them and helps us concentrate on the competition.”
Johan Axgren remains the man to catch at the head of the Challenge Tour Rankings. With his two victories already this season, the Swede is a long way ahead of the chasing pack, with season’s earnings of €77,453.
If Axgren can win another event on the Challenge Tour Schedule, he will be rewarded with automatic and immediate promotion to The European Tour for the remainder of 2006, and the whole of 2007.
