Dixon Returns On PGA EuroPro Tour - 20/07/2007

FORMER England footballer Lee Dixon continues his golfing apprenticeship alongside many of the top young professionals in the sport at Bovey Castle this week.

The ex-Arsenal defender was a keen golfer throughout his football career, and played on the PGA EuroPro Tour at Whittlebury Park last year.

He will link up once more with the tour at the picturesque Bovey Castle GC near Moretonhampstead for the 54-hole PGA EuroPro Tour event which begins on Tuesday.

The top 50 players, plus ties, from the 156 who will start the event progress to the final day on Thursday to play for £40,000 in prize money.

St Mellion's Adam Frayne, a winner on the 2006 PGA EuroPro Tour who also qualified for The Open last month, will join a number of other players from the region to compete.

East Devon's Kevin Harper is currently 22nd on the Order of Merit, with his best finish coming when he was tied fourth at Morgado in Portugal in May, when Frayne was victorious.

Fingle Glen's Paul Hendricksen has made the cut at five tournaments this year, while Teignmouth's Sean Mason has had three top-25 finishes in 2006.

Derbyshire's Mark Smith, who won the 2005 PGA EuroPro Tour Championship, is among the big names competing, alongside Daniel Gaunt, who is second on the current Order of Merit.

Andrew Willey is attempting back-to-back wins after he won last week's tournament at Collingtree Park in Northampton in a play-off.

"We are looking forward to a great tournament," said PGA EuroPro Tour Managing Director Eddie Hearn.

"Bovey Castle is a tremendous setting for the event, being situated inside the Dartmoor National Park, and is certainly one of the most scenic venues we have ever visited.

"The course itself will provide a great challenge to the players and makes for an exciting event."

The tournament will be staged over 54 holes from Tuesday to Thursday on The Old Course at Bovey Castle, with the top 50 players, plus ties, after two rounds progressing to the third day.

The tournament is free to watch for spectators, and is filmed by Sky Sports ahead of the screening of a 90-minutes highlights package later this month.