TROWBRIDGE golfer Steve Surry has credited his upturn in form to a new partnership with Gloucestershire-based coach Tom Motley.

Surry, who is based at the Cumberwell Park club in Bradford on Avon, followed up his recent victory in a Jamega Tour event at Ascot with a fifth-placed finish at Magnolia Park in Buckinghamshire.

The 35 year old was then 18th on the South African Sunshine Tour in the Zambia Open, and posted a fifth-placed finish in the Gran Premio Meliá Hacienda del Conde on Tenerife.

Surry just missed out on a place on the European Challenge Tour’s Hauts de France Open this week but feels teaming up with South Cerney’s Motley has brought about improvements, with his stroke average being shaved by a shot a round in the last year.

“I used to follow Tom on Twitter and he seemed a knowledgeable guy so when I was not playing well I dropped him a message and he got back to me straight away,” said Surry. “Before I had even met him I sent him some examples of my swing on What’s App. Tom is really motivated to do well for you and he came back with some suggestions.

“I probably see him once every six weeks and he has a great set-up at South Cerney, but we are in touch every day.

“I’ve been playing the game for 20 years so I am not developing new faults – it is about managing the old faults.

“I also use the Decade golf software programme and Tom can look at all my rounds and see statistically where I am missing opportunities based on things like the percentage of eight foot putts I hole.

“We will also look ahead to the golf courses I am playing on Google Earth and plot where I should be driving or deciding the best places to hit shots into the green.”