Two Dereham golfers chasing major dreams against world's best

BBC News

25-06-2025

They may be at different ends of their golfing journey, but two players at a Norfolk club retain high hopes of global success.Professional Andrew Marshall, 51, heads to the 45th US Senior Open Championship this week, which takes place at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.Meanwhile, teenage amateur Liam Caffyn is targeting the McGregor Trophy and the Scottish Boys' Open Championship for Europe's elite juniors."It is an exciting time. We are enjoying it and so is everyone at the club," said Marshall, who along with Caffyn plays at Dereham Golf Club.
For Marshall, a veteran of the European Tour (now DP World Tour), this will be his first appearance at the US Senior Open.He became one of seven players to qualify by finishing as runner-up in a field of more than 60 players at a qualifier in North Carolina."I am not too apprehensive," Marshall told BBC Look East. "It will be a proper test on fast greens with deep rough. It is the biggest tournament I will have played in a long time.""Secretly, of course, I am hoping to win it," he added. "But, realistically, I would like to make the cut, absorb the atmosphere and continue to play well ahead of our Open [Championship at Sunningdale]." The Norfolk professional enjoyed 15 years on tour from 2001, making 238 starts. His best finish was tied second at the 2006 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. He also famously won a car for a hole-in-one while playing in Germany."If you can play like it matters the least when it means the most, I think you will do well. That is the secret," he said.
Caffyn, 15, has a huge month ahead, competing at the Scottish Boys' Under 16 Open Championship at Peebles Golf Club before The McGregor Trophy at Radcliffe-on-Trent.He said: "I qualified for the McGregor by winning a tournament [the Midland Under 16 Open] in Shropshire in April."It makes me proud and shows the hard work is paying off."The McGregor Trophy is an English boys' amateur stroke play championship played over 72 holes. It attracts a field of 144 competitors, with a maximum playing handicap of 5.Caffyn plays off a handicap of 1.5. The Dereham schoolboy said he hoped to make the halfway cut while competing against Europe's elite in Nottinghamshire."I have been practising every day, learning from the likes of Andrew [Marshall], who is my idol and I have been trying to improve my game."
"One day, I hope to turn professional and play on the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour and, perhaps, play in the majors," the left-hander added.This year, despite being a teenager, he has stepped up to the Norfolk men's team.He said the county's winter coaching programme had really helped him develop his game.Marshall said Caffyn was "doing well and improving". "He is still at school so it is important to balance school work and golf, so he does not get burnt out by playing too much," he said.
Stuart Goodman, club secretary at Dereham Golf Club, said everyone was "delighted and very proud" to see two of their players being represented on the world stage."We have been described as a little gem in Norfolk and these two are proving the point," he said."We have a very strong junior section, which encourages and develops players as young as four years old right through until they are 18. And having Liam and Andrew performing so well is truly inspiring for all of them."
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.