2025 Platinum
The PGA Cup match against the United States takes place in Georgia in September, and 41-year-old Andrew, head pro at Hatfield London Country Club, knows that the non-playing captain of the 10-man team is Gary Alliss.
"He's an old mate of mine", said Andrew yesterday at Bishop's Stortford after jointly leading the East Region qualifiers for the Glenmuir Club Professional Championship.
"He was pro at Harpenden when I was an amateur there, and it would be great to steal a few points in the Glenmuir final at Royal Porthcawl in June."
Andrew's two-under 69 yesterday, tied by three others - Steve Cipa, Mark Stokes and Richard Campbell - meant he eased through to the 72-hole Porthcawl final, where the winner also picks up £10,000.
In a round of mixed figures, which he confessed was largely caused by poor iron play, Clapp recorded four birdies, an eagle and four bogeys over the 6404-yard course that's also home to the PGA East Region's headquarters. His eagle, at the 481-yard 12th, came courtesy of a drive, and a four-iron to four feet.
Earlier this year Andrew had an encouraging start to the season, taking third place in a 54-hole event in Curacao, just off the Venezuelan coast, where his opposition included players from the USA, Venezuela and the Caribbean.
"I didn't really count that as a warm-up for the season since I was playing in shorts in 90 degrees", he confessed.
Having stopped full-time competitive play in 2000, Andrew now concentrates on teaching, as head boys' coach for Hertfordshire.
West Berks pro Richard Campbell claimed his 69, two under par, came about because he 'chopped it around and holed the world!'
The 27-year-old from West Berkshire, near Newbury, reckoned he had no more than 22 putts in his two-under-par round. " I think I holed about eight miles of putts, and the round overall is certainly not one of my career-best."
Five birdies and three bogeys made up Richard's card, and he now joins 16 other qualifiers at Royal Porthcawl.
Upminster's Steve Cipa, another on 69, aims to go one better than last year in his Glenmuir experiences.
"I've made the final for the last two years (at Prince's and Woodhall Spa) but didn't make the halfway cut", said 47-year-old Steve. "It would be nice to take that step up this year and play all four rounds."
With two holes to play yesterday Steve was heading for an even better round, his card showing five birdies and a solitary bogey, when he stumbled at the last two holes.
"I over-clubbed at the short 17th, went through the green, chipped back and missed from five feet. I did the opposite at the last, under-clubbing my approach, then chipping and two putts. Otherwise I played very steadily, and hit all the three par-fives in two."
A topsy-turvy front nine for Mark Stokes (birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey from the sixth) was bettered on the home run, gains coming at the 10th, 12th and 14th, before dropping his only inward shot, at the 199-yard 17th.