Mark Belsham (right) and Joe Jezzard (left) are looking for national glory at this weekend's SkyCaddie PGA fourball championship

Deal's Mark Belsham and Joe Jezzard were counting on a combination of experience and youth at this week’s SkyCaddie PGA Fourball Championship.

Belsham, 49, a teaching professional from Stonelees Golf Centre, Ramsgate, and Jezzard, 21, golf professional at Walmer and Kingsdown GC, began their quest for the national championship title and a share of the £30,000 prize fund at the Forest Pines Golf and Country Club in Lincolnshire yesterday (Wednesday).

The duo are one of eight qualifiers from the PGA South Region taking on 60 other pairs.

"We fit in well and the old guy, young guy combination seems to work," said Belsham.

And Jezzard should be full of confidence this week after glowing praise from his partner about his future in the game.

"I’ve known Joe for a long time and he’s got a good future," added Belsham, who hopes to secure his own future by winning a European Senior Tour
card at November’s qualifying school.

"He’s only 21 but has got everything and I’m encouraged for Joe because I don’t think he will start playing his best golf until he’s 24 or 25."

Belsham has added incentive for performing well having missed out on a previous final appearance when his partner pulled out at short notice, so he’s determined to take the opportunity.

"We’ll just rip it, just like we did during qualifying," he said. "I always take the game seriously and although this is a more relaxed format, I want to do well.

"But you know how it is with this game, one week you can be great the next week poor. I’ve had some good results and some bad ones this year but do a lot of teaching as well so it’s always hard to find that happy medium to be able to practice enough."