PGA captain Parnell Reilly, the Bradley Park head professional, did the honours at the annual meeting of the PGA North Region at Fixby when Mike Ingham, the retired Cleckheaton professional, received the PGA Advanced Fellow award.
Ingham was the longest serving club professional in Kirklees when he stepped down after 34 years, calling a halt to a career in which he had been one of the leading players in the PGA North Region.
Ingham counted a Leeds Cup success among victories in every major tournament in Yorkshire and the North bar the North Region championship, losing in a play-off for that title to Lancastrian Brian Evans at Harrogate. Twice he topped the North Region order of Merit and also captained and chaired the Yorkshire and North Region PGAs.
He played in four Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup teams against the United States and was non-playing captain in the 1994 match in Florida.
his individual playing record in singles was outstanding, winning two and halving one of the four he played. A lone defeat was on the last green.
Ingham qualified for the Open Championship on seven occasions and three times played all four rounds. He recalled the 1983 championship at Royal Birkdale, won by Tom Watson. He said: “On the first day I led the championship after nine holes and my name was above those of Watson and Jack Nicklaus.”
As a newcomer to the PGA Tour, forerunner of the European Tour, the long-hitting Ingham was rated among the best prospects.
