Hard to be a Handy man, says Mason

Apr 24 2008 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

RICHARD Mason, the Durham City club champion who made a promising debut in a pre-season warm-up for County Durham at the weekend, plans to turn professional “as soon as possible”.

This is a setback for the new county captain, James Handy, who has the task of lifting a Durham side who have finished bottom of the Northern Counties League for two years in a row and have won only two matches in the past three seasons.

Handy is a much-respected figure in golf. Ten times champion of South Moor, the winner of 69 caps for the county captured The Journal Champion of Champions crown in 1998.

It is less than six weeks until the second anniversary of County Durham’s most recent league victory, when they beat Cumbria 12½-5½ at Beamish Park on June 3, 2006. And there is just over a fortnight to go before the county start the new league season against Cheshire with a home match at Handy’s home club, South Moor, on May 10.

Handy should be hoping the county has an ace to play, judging by Mason’s results when he made his debut for the county amateurs against the professionals from the PGA North East North West Region at Seaham.

The 21-year-old Mason is used to flying starts. As a nine-year-old, he landed his first hole-in-one within five months of joining Durham City and has since followed up with further aces at Southport and Ainsdale, Whickham, and – less than three weeks ago – Silloth.

At Seaham, the county amateurs secured an honourable and encouraging 9-9 draw against the region’s pros with Mason winning his singles match and his foursomes contest, in partnership with Adam Bates of Blackwell Grange.

But for county captain Handy, the irony is that Mason’s professional victim in the singles, Chester-le-Street’s Darren Crowle, may soon be running up against the same opponent again on the PGA Europro Tour, two rungs below the European Tour on the pro ladder. That would deprive Mason of his amateur status and county captain Handy of his contribution.

To rub salt into the wound, Mason comes from a Durham City background run along similar lines to the junior section at the captain’s club. Handy is such a keen supporter of grass-roots golf that, with the help of his wife Anne, he is continuing as South Moor’s Junior Liaison Officer despite his new role as county captain.

Mason’s club, Durham City, the reigning North Durham Union League champions, have iconic status in terms of encouraging youngsters and, last season, Mason successfully defended the county junior strokeplay championship at Beamish Park, having won it the year before at Brancepeth.

He has impeccable county pedigree as a former Durham County Junior Golfing Society Under-21 captain who has played in two Junior Big Six matches.

But the former St Leonard’s Secondary School pupil, who also studied at Durham Sixth Form Centre, is a former schoolboy centre-forward and 100 metres runner taking the fastest route to goal possible.

Currently assisting Durham City professional Steve Corbally in the club shop on a part-time basis, Mason said: “As soon as I can find somebody who will sponsor me, I shall turn professional and play on the Europro Tour. I want to combine that with getting my PGA club professional qualifications, so I shall be able to coach golfers and repair clubs.

“One way or another, golf is going to be to be my job and I want to get on with it. I tied for 11th place in pre-qualifying for the Europro Tour and although I had a nightmare in final qualifying I still have a Category 13 qualification which will give me all the starts I want – if I can find a sponsor.

“I want to get on with my career. I’m learning a lot from Steve Corbally and I very much enjoyed my debut for the county. I was pleased to be picked by Durham because I felt I matured into my golf last season after putting in more time on the practice ground.”

Handy and the County Durham selection committee can do no more than wait to see how long Mason is going to be available as they pick each side in turn to present to the monthly full executive committee meetings for ratification.

Handy may also have another issue to address, putting aside the poor results of recent years. Eyebrows were raised last season when none of the County Durham team attended the meal following their defeat by Northumberland at Hexham.

One way or another, golf is going to be to be my job and I want to get on with my career