Hamerton has final word at last

Grant Hamerton finally got his hands on the PGA Lancashire Matchplay Championship trophy after a close encounter with six-time winner Barry Taylor at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The Pike Fold professional had waited four years to avenge defeat by his Houghwood opponent in the 2009 final played over the same venue.

"It was always going to be tight and every time I went ahead Barry came back at me," he said.

It was nip and tuck all the way but Hamerton, 40, a former European Tour player, was never behind at any stage.

He won the first hole in par and went two up with a birdie at the eighth but Taylor cancelled that out with a two at the 156-yard ninth.

The former PGA Cup player also birdied the 10th to square matters and both contestants missed chances to seize the initiative on the home stretch.

But Hamerton rolled a 20-foot putt stone dead on the penultimate hole where Taylor took three to get down after missing the green with his approach shot. He then conceded the match on the last.

Defending champion Martin Edge, from Hesketh, was beaten 6&4 by Taylor in the semi-finals as Hamerton eclipsed Jeff Mathews, the Oak Royal professional, 4&3.