Officially the first tournament of the 2008 season was the HSBC event in China, which was then followed by the Hong Kong Open and South African events in Dec.

The early season results showed proved significant for HSPSE and its instructors. In particular the South African ‘swing’ saw 2 players who have benefited from the schools instruction getting the new season off to good starts.

At the Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek GC Mpumalanga, 6th -9 th Dec 2007 England’s Lee Slattery continued his recent run of good form when he finished in 2nd place. Slattery overcame the disappointment of missing his tour card by the small margin of 77 Euro at the end of the 2007 season to bounce back at the tour school in November and gain his privileges for the 2008 season. The week prior to tour school Lee attended HSPSE to undertake a programme of improvement on his putting technique with Phil Kenyon after a disappointing 2007 season on the greens. Lee became 3rd on the yearly nerv-racking Q-School final.

Level 2 instructor’s will be able to access to the data from Lee’s visit, once the members area is online. This will happen in the next few weeks.

Taking his tour school form to South Africa Lee found himself paired in the last round with 2 time major winner Ernie Els. Performing with credibility he eventually finished tied 2nd with Ernie at 12 under par, 1 behind winner John Bickerton. A finish that starts Lee's off 2008 season as he would have liked. Keep up the good work Lee!

The following week at the Pearl Valley Estate, near Cape Town James Kingston and Oliver Wilson went head to head in the final round to see who could be crowned South African Open Champion.

Both professionals worked with Phil Kenyon during the 2007 season. Oliver visited the studio and also worked with Phil out at several of the tour events. James picked up a Yes C-Groove Putter from Phil at the Madrid Open in October and also spent some time working through some technical fundamentals.

In Madrid James was using a belly putter. However he spoke to Phil about how he would like to go back to using a shorter putter. Phil fitted him for a Callie and they worked on his short putter technique. At the time James believed it would take a while before he could commit to the new technique and club however after shooting a disasterous 77 in the first round he decided to change to the shorter putter in the 2^nd round and shot a course record 64 to make the cut. He has used the club and technique ever since.

Fortunately for James, his new technique held up in the tension filled last round to see him lift his own national title. Wilson finished 2^nd and can at least take away with him some early season form as he builds up his 2008 season to a hopeful Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla Golf, Louisville, Kentucky in September.

Joomla on osCandy.comHoldiland crÂŽateur de pcsolutions web sur mesure

Lee Slattery with Yes C-Groove Putter

Yes! Golf's Wayne Farrell with James Kingston, Winner of the South African Airways Open

Phil Kenyons Yes! Bag on the Madeira Open in march 2007

Madeira Open in March 2007