RHUDDLAN Golf Club were delighted to host DP World Tour player Matthew Jordan for a unique exhibition match.
Matthew from Hoylake, Merseyside, became a household name at The 151st Open Championship this year where he had a top 10 finish at his home course, Royal Liverpool. He has had great success so far since turning professional in 2018 with more than £2million in career earnings and currently inside the top 50 in the Race to Dubai.
The reason behind Matthew’s visit to Rhuddlan was special.
He had heard of their home-grown talents, Caolan Burford and Jacob Davies, and reached out to the golf club through a relative who is a member of the club.
Bryan Joelson-Mulhall, Director of Golf and PGA Professional at Rhuddlan Golf Club, said: "Matthew wanted to pass on advice and experience of playing on tour and give Rhuddlan Golf Club the opportunity to fundraise and help with entry fee and travel expenses the two local golfers incur playing national and international tournaments."
Caolan, plus 6 handicap, who is aged 19, is a member of Rhuddlan Golf Club and Welsh International. He is currently inside the top 400 in The World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
Caolan was the first Welshmen since 2013 to win the Welsh Men’s Open Strokeplay in 2022 and the first person to lift both the Welsh Boys Championship and Open Strokeplay Trophy in the same year since 1969. He finished in 9th place in this year’s Amateur Championship and has recently reached the match play stages of The US Amateur Junior Championship.
Jacob, as an amateur, has represented his country on numerous occasions. He has travelled the world to compete amongst the very best of the Amateur ranks.
He also boasted multiple wins and top 10 finishes at Elite Amateur events.
Before turning professional in 2021, Jacob reached a peak World ranking (WAGR) of 418 and a handicap of +5. In his first event as a professional, Jacob secured a T8 finish in the King Hamad trophy in Bahrain.
Bryan said: "For the Exhibition match Matthew Jordan paired with Rhuddlan Golf Clubs PGA Professional, Bryan Joelson-Mulhall to represent team England against the Welsh pairing of Caolan and Jacob.
"Over 200 members and local residents walked the fairways with the 4 ball and were in awe of the golf being played around the challenge competition tees and Rhuddlan GC, a Fredrick Hawtree design course.
"Callaway Golf, Matthew’s equipment sponsor and one of the many brands available at The Golf Hub at Rhuddlan Golf Club donated raffle prizes and sponsored a putting competition which helped raise funds."
The golf club raised nearly £2,000 on the day which will go directly towards Caolan and Jacob’s expenses next season. A blind auction was available to bid to be Matthew’s caddy for the day, a once in a lifetime opportunity in which Rhuddlan member, Terry Meigh won the bidding with a very generous offer. The Lady Members of Rhuddlan Golf Club did a fantastic job of selling raffle tickets on the day and local businesses sponsored holes.
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Bryan said: "Rhuddlan Golf Club can not thank Matthew enough. His generosity of offering his time and experience is priceless. Matthew had time for everyone on the day, answering questions, posing for pictures, signing autographs and presenting raffle winners with prizes in the clubhouse afterwards.
"We wish Matthew the best of luck in this weeks Irish Open and the rest of his career. Rhuddlan Golf Club is now his biggest fan."
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