Golf entertainment

STAR-STUDDED PRO AM HERALDS WEEK OF INTERNATIONAL GOLF AT THE STOKE BY NAYLAND CLUB

Snooker, golf and football fans were treated to a day of star-spotting and entertainment at The Stoke by Nayland Club when they attended the PGA Europro Tour Pro Am on Sunday.
World snooker champion, Ronnie O’Sullivan and his runner up Matthew Stevens played in the event, as did ex Arsenal player Lee Dixon and Ipswich Town player, Shefki Kuqi.
One of the highlights of the day was a short game master class given by 2003 British Masters Champion, Greg Owen, at the Club’s Driving Range. Crowds were thrilled to watch Greg teach both the six times world snooker champion, Steve Davis, and Ronnie O’Sullivan in the master class (please see attached photo). Everyone was highly entertained by Steve Davis’ challenges to his teacher, and they were all encouraged to ask the Golf expert burning questions about their particular golfing problems. Managing Director of The Stoke by Nayland Club, Susanna Rendall was also invited to take part in the class.
A BBC “Look East” team with sports presenter, Ian Winter, Ivor Moores and Alex Dunlop provided more familiar faces for the spectators, and British Olympic Team Swimmer,
Karen Pickering joined everyone for the Gala Dinner.
The popularity of the event resulted in two shot gun starts for over 50 teams – 8.30am and 1.30pm - and there were prizes for the best scores for each session, as well as nearest to the pin and longest drive. The first prize for the day, which was a tv and dvd to each player, went to Kieran Staunton, John Venner, Peter Bushfield and Gary Borthwick with a team score of 88 points.
Steve Davis again entertained players, sponsors and guests with a speech following the Gala Dinner for 250 and then awarded the prizes.
The International Professionals who played in this event will return to the Stoke by Nayland Club on Tuesday for the 3 day PGA Europro Tour championship, to which all spectators are invited free of charge to walk around the course and watch these 150 or so rising stars of international golf on their doorstep.
The event, which is named “The 888.com Masters at The Stoke by Nayland Club”, will be televised on Sky Sports TV at various times on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th July and then rolled out to over 100 countries worldwide.
The Stoke by Nayland Club is just off the A134 half way between Colchester and Sudbury.