Andy Paisley in Spain to caddy for brother

Nov 26 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

THE Hexham club professional, Andy Paisley, flew to Spain yesterday to caddy for his brother Chris in the Final Stage of European Tour qualifying – just in case he gets a game!

The six-round slog starts on Saturday at PGA Golf de Catalunya, just north of Barcelona, with Chris the third alternate in the event of withdrawals following the end of Stage Two qualifying this week, also in Spain.

Andy said: “It has only happened once in around the last seven years that this has not been good enough to get in and that was last year. Usually enough players withdraw for the third alternate to get in.” The Paisleys are one of only two sets of brothers to have both won the Northumberland amateur championship.

Chris, from the Stocksfield club and a former US college star, played for Great Britain & Ireland against America in this year’s Walker Cup.

He missed out by one shot on automatic qualifying from Stage Two, having been exempt until that stage.

But he triumphed in a four-man play-off to join the list of alternates from the four venues used for Stage Two and decided it was worth his while to stay on in Spain.

Brother Andy, who had made provisional plans to take time off work in the Hexham pro’s shop if Chris had qualified, decided to fly out anyway.