One-armed golfer vows to return after defeat (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
Send us your pictures, video, news and views by texting DST to 80360 or email us
Disappointment for Darren Grey at British Open
8:00am Tuesday 28th August 2012 in News
By Andy Walker, Chief Reporter (Darlington)
US PLANS: Darren Grey
A ONE-ARMED golfer has vowed to return to the greens after a belowpar performance in a national championship at the weekend.
Darren Grey, from Darlington, was competing in the Disabled British Open, in East Sussex, but fell out of contention after a promising opening round.
The 27-year-old amateur, who is a care worker, said: “On the first day, I was only about eight or nine shots off the lead and then I started off well in the second round, but it started to go wrong when I dropped a couple of shots.”
A subsequent hole saw him take ten strokes to complete, which put paid to his chances.
The tournament attracted more than 80 competitors in various ability categories, of which Mr Grey was in the top band.
He said: “It was really disappointing.
I was hitting the ball well, but it was just one of those days where nothing seemed to go right.”
Far from being downbeat, Mr Grey plans to take a couple of days off before returning to the fairways at Dinsdale Spa Golf Club, near Darlington, to practice for tournaments in France and the US.
Mr Grey, who was born with the lower part of his left arm missing, is also hoping to switch from using everyday clubs to custom-built ones that better suit his disability.
He said: “I use regular clubs, but I have been wanting to go customfitted for a couple of years and I am at the stage now where I really need to be looking into it if I am to go forward.”
Mr Grey, who lives with his partner, Sarah, and is step-father to her six-year-old daughter, Aimee, hopes to attract sponsorship.
He said: “When I am going well, I am keeping up with lads who are spending four or five days a week practising, so I am there at that level.
“Unfortunately, I do not have that backing behind me that would help me kick on.”
To sponsor Mr Grey, call Dinsdale Spa Golf Club on 01325-332297.
