English golfers win top pro awards
18 May
2005
Two women golfers – who came through England amateur
ranks – are among the UK 's best young golf professionals.
Stephanie Coverley and Fiona Brown, a former English
champion, were prizewinners at the PGA's graduation
ceremony at The Belfry, when BBC golf presenter Steve
Rider was guest of honour.
They were among about 250 graduates who have just
achieved PGA qualified status – of whom only six
were women.
Stephanie, who works at Woodsome Hall on the edge
of Huddersfield, won the Female Trainee of the Year
award, which is sponsored by the Ladies European
Tour. She was presented with a cheque for £1000
by LET senior tournament director Huw Jones.
She was also seventh in the Titleist Trainee of
the Year award, with Fiona close behind in 11 th
place.
Stephanie turned professional in 2000 after spending
three years playing full-time on the England amateur
circuit. Her career decision was influenced by her
brother, another PGA professional, and she said: “It
was the right choice for me, I've enjoyed it.”
She recommends it to other women. “Amateurs don't
seem to consider this as a career. They say they
want to be a golf professional, as in Tour professional,
but I think this is a good career and you can run
it in tandem with playing,” added Stephanie, who
did much of her training at Bradley Park, on the
other side of Huddersfield.
Fiona Brown was an England international and a Curtis
Cup player but was not tempted by a career as a playing
professional. “I didn't think I was good enough,” she
said.
Instead, she embarked on her PGA training, at Silvermere
in Surrey, to add to her degree in leisure management,
and said: “I think it opens a lot of doors.”
Fiona has just started a new job as a play and youth
development officer with Runnymede council, while
continuing to teach golf at Hoebridge Golf Club.
The other women PGA graduates were: Sophie Hunter
of Golfers Paradise, Algarve, Marisa Newman of Knole
Park, Karen Nicholls of Millfield Golf Academy and
Elaine Ratcliffe of Brocket Hall.
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