More Glory For Bell
Nov 4 2009 The Journal
TEES Valley golf professional Graeme Bell has enjoyed a fantastic last few months of the season to win the NE/NW PGA order of merit. Bell, who hails from Hartlepool and is head professional at Eaglescliffe, is eying the European Senior Tour in a couple of years' time but is proving that he still has a lot to offer in regular competition.
After notching three excellent wins last year - in the Northumberland and Durham Open as well as the Northumbria Police Pro-Am and the Cleveland Police Pro-Am - Graeme endured a fairly lackluster start to 2009.
But things picked up markedly mid-summer when he finished as runner-up to Walker Cup star Chris Paisley in the Northumberland and Durham Open at Tyneside GC.
Graeme's two rounds of 66 and 64 for a 10 under total put him just one shot behind Paisley, who had scored a fine 63 in his second round.
Bell went on to win the Cumbrian Masters event at Keswick thanks to two great rounds of 66 for another 10 under total and then he beat Mike Archer 3&2 in the final of the NE/NW PGA Match Play Championship.
He also won several pro-ams as the season wound to a close.
What's more, Graeme and Eaglescliffe member Denis wing have qualified to play in the final of the Virgin Atlantic-sponsored PGA National Pro-Am Final at Antalya in Turkey in December.
The event, which used to be known as the Lombard Trophy, attracts thousands of pairs from all over the UK each year.
Graeme said: "It's certainly been my best season for several years. I was quite pleased with the way things went last year but 2009 has certainly topped it.
"I'm 46 now and so don't play anywhere near as many tournaments as I used to. I got off to what can only be described as an average start this season but things picked up quite a bit after the Northumberland and Durham Open.
"I had gone back to an old set of Titleist DCI clubs that are probably 15 years old that I hadn't played with for about three years and that seemed to change my luck. I'm really looking forward to going to Turkey in December."
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