Hamerton stages big finish at Delamere

Grant Hamerton will be hoping he hits the ground running after reaching his first Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship final.

Hamerton, of Bury’s Pike Fold Golf Club, won the North West qualifying event held at Delamere Forest Golf Club after setting a course record.

He carded a three-under-par round of 69 to win by one shot ahead of Jon Bevan (Rhos on Sea) and Craig Corrigan (Haigh Hall Golf Complex).

But there will be little time to prepare for the final with the event being staged just 11 days after the qualifying round at the Cheshire venue.

The 21 qualifiers will now play in the £78,000 Glenmuir showpiece on June 11-14 at the De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland.

The Peugeot-supported final will also decide who makes the Great Britain and Ireland team which will compete in the PGA Cup against the USA in an event which will also be staged at Slaley Hall.

Hamerton admits the timing could work in his favour.

He said: “It was a case of getting on with it in the qualifying round and making sure I got through to the final.

“Now I’d rather play it sooner rather than later, so it doesn’t matter that I haven’t got that much time to prepare for the final.

“It’s my first time in the event so that’s something I haven’t done in my career.

“I have played Slaley Hall before but not for around 10 years so it’s probably changed since then.”

Hamerton made a shaky start but three successive birdies at the 14th, 15th and 16th holes steered him towards the top of the leaderboard.

He added: “It was a bad start and a good finish, which is the best way to do it.

“I ended up putting quite well. But I just tried to keep it simple and it worked, I won but only just.”