Neil Fenwick hopes new manager Paul Lawrie can take him to 'next level'

Neil Fenwick ended the inaugural Tartan Pro Tour season being congratulated by Paul Lawrie for topping the money-list - and now he’s starting the new campaign with the 1999 Open champion as his manager.

Paul Lawrie, who set up the Tartan Pro Tour, presents Neil Fenwick with a watch after one of his victories on the circuit last season. Picture: Kenny Smith

Having played with Fenwick on a number of occasions on the new circuit for Scottish-based players last year, Lawrie liked what he was seeing and added the Edinburgh man to his Five Star Sports Agency stable.

It’s been a huge confidence booster for Fenwick, who is hoping to make his mark on the Challenge Tour this year but, first up, it’s the opening event on the 2012 Tartan Pro Tour at Montrose Links over the next two days.

“It turned out to be a good year last year considering we didn’t have anything to play until Paul put his events on and that certainly turned into a positive year for me,” said Fenwick, who landed wins in both the Pollok Open and Rowallan Castle Championship in securing an Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open spot.

“Paul then coming on board as my manager is definitely a good development for me as I feel as though I’m at a crucial stage in my career.

“To have his support and advice and just his knowledge is great and he believes he can help take me to that next level, so to have someone like him in your corner is brilliant.”

Lawrie has been European Tour winner David Law’s mentor for a long time, while others he now manages include his son Craig, Sam Locke, Craig Howie, Michele Thomson and Hannah McCook.

“I had played with him before, but fortunately, I played with him a few times last year on the Tartan Pro Tour,” added Fenwick.

“For him to then approach me at the end season and basically say, ‘I feel you can get there, we just need to give you a helping hand with different aspects of your game’ gives you a relief belief and boost in confidence that you can do it.”

Fenwick and Lawrie are in the opening group along with 2005 Open Silver Medal winner Lloyd Saltman for the Montrose Links Masters, which has attracted a 75-strong field.

The 36-hole Angus event is the first of 12 tournaments - double last year’s number - on the 2012 schedule, with visits set to be made to Open Championship venues and Scottish Open courses over the next six months.

“Paul has pulled a great schedule together again and I think everyone is excited to get the season started at Montrose,” said Fenwick, who, thanks to his manager, now as an attachment at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian.

“There’s some great courses and the events are not clashing with those on other tours, so he has organised it really well.

“I’ve got quite a few starts on the Challenge Tour. I’ve got an initial four and hopefully another three after that. I’m pencilled in to play in Ireland at the end of May and then I’m playing in the Czech Republic, France and Austria.

“My plan is to play on the Tartan Pro Tour and also a bit on the EuroPro Tour, but hopefully I can get a bit of money up on the board on the Challenge Tour as well and kind of move from there.”

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