CHESHIRE golfer Dale Marmion is sitting in pole position for the Asian Tour after a stunning world debut.
After turning professional in August, he flew out to Malaysia and won stage one of qualifying.
It would be difficult to tell that it is the first time he has played outside Europe, excluding his performances for the England A squad. The 22-year-old from Eaton Golf Club only needed to finish in the top 11 at the Sutera Harbour and Sabah Golf Club to reach the next stage – yet responded in style with rounds of 71,71,68 and a final five-under-par 67.
He will now take part in the next stage on December 12 after some time out.
Marmion said: “It was probably my best performance ever, but I knew I was capable of this.
“It was very warm, humid, 30 degrees every day and 70 degrees humidity. I was not used to it but I am a fit young lad – I threw a lot of water down me and I came through it very well. It didn’t have any effect on my golf.
“I did some TV interviews – it was absolutely brilliant.”
His total for the four days was an 11-under par 277 and included 25 birdies.
But this simply reflects his brilliant performances since turning professional. Out of 25 rounds of golf that he has played since making the step up, he has only been over par twice.
Marmion said: “I think the professional game suits me more than the amateur game – there’s more incentive in it. I don’t think the standard is particularly higher, but you have to perform better. You are here to make a living and you have to shoot under par to make any money. I just enjoy the extra challenge.”
He added: “If you win even a small Asian Tour event you will get maybe seven European Tour places when the tour gets to Asia, so this is another way of getting European Tour places.”
Marmion, who began playing when he was 12, has shown he is dedicated and means business. After taking some deserved time out from golf after his stunning display in Asia, he has now gone back to working on his swing with Heswall coach Alan Thompson after noticing he is pulling some shots. It is clearly a minor flaw, but one that he is keen to eliminate before going back into competition.
