Golf: Costa del Sol win fires up Gallagher

SWANSTON star John Gallagher is hoping a Spanish success is the sign of things to come this season as he bids to move up the golfing ladder.

The former Scottish amateur champion beat a strong field to win the Freddy Valenti Pro-Am at San Roque on the Costa del Sol. He carded rounds of 71, 70 and 71 over the tough track for a four-under-par total and a two-shot win over Gary Wolstenholme, the former English amateur star who now plays on the European Senior Tour.

“It was only by coincidence that I played in the event but I was delighted that I managed to win it,” said Gallagher.

He’s been in Spain for nearly a fortnight playing on the Gecko Winter Tour, a mini circuit based on the Costa del Sol. “It consists of two-round events that are well run,” he added. “It’s also a lot cheaper to enter than the Hi5 Tour.”

Once he returns home, Gallagher will start gearing up for the start of the new EuroPro Tour season. To help raise funds for that campaign, he’s hosting a golf event at Swanston New on May 18 for only £105 per team. “I have decided to concentrate solely on the EuroPro Tour this year and not allow myself to get distracted by the Challenge Tour,” he said. “It is good experience when you get the chance to play at that level but it’s not easy to prepare yourself properly when you get a phone call on the Monday night.

“I think the EuroPro Tour circuit has 15 events so far with the possibility of others being added.”