Cheney’s gang

Local PGA golf professional Rob Cheney returns to the famous TPC Sawgrass resort in Jacksonville, Florida, this weekend to defend his pro-am title he captured 12 months ago.

Cheney, the 27-year-old from Knebworth Golf Club, will be competing in the 2006 Sawgrass Classic Pro-Am hosted by The American Golf Holiday company.

This event, now in its fourth year, is held annually and is always played the week after the USPGA Tour's visit for The Players' Championship.

Returning with the same team, who also won first prize in the team competition, they will be flying to Florida two days earlier this year to soak up the atmosphere of the final round of The Players' Championship.

His team-mates are Phil Evans, Steve Bratt and Nigel Harris.

Cheney said: "It's great to be going back to defend our titles, and having the chance to watch the best players in the world tackle the awesome challenge of the Stadium course is the icing on the cake!"

The pro-am tournament itself is contested over 54 holes on three different golf courses, St John's Golf and Country Club and the two courses at TPC Sawgrass - the Valley course and the infamous Stadium course which features the most recognised par three hole in golf.........the 17th.

Going into last year's final round on the Stadium course, Cheney managed to overcome an eight-shot deficit with an incredible round of 68 (four under), including an impressive finish of four, three and three against a par of five, three and four.

"It was an amazing day and one I'll never forget," continued Cheney.

"Given the circumstances and the tough, windy conditions, it was one of the best rounds of golf I've ever played. It would be great to go back and defend successfully."

Cheney, who is sponsored by Stevenage-based cleaning company, Turner's Cleaning and Support Services, is also the head teaching professional at American Golf in Biggleswade.