Happy Hickling seals Tour spot

Adam Hickling overcame a two-shot deficit to win The PGA in Hampshire Stroke Play Championship, sponsored by Be Wiser Insurance, in dramatic fashion.

The Stoneham pro triumphed in a two-hole play-off with morning leader Dan Seymour after both had finished on a two-under-par total of 140 at the Army Golf Club.

The big bonus for Hickling is a spot on the PGA EuroPro Tour event back at the course in August, with the opportunity for the winner of picking up £10,000.

In the play-off, both players had regulation threes at the 17th but Seymour, of Winchester Golf Academy, shanked his second at the 18th into thick rough.

That opened the door for Hickling who kept his nerve after a good drive to find the green and two-putted for a par while Seymour suffered a triple bogey.

Hickling, 25, also won the PGA in Hampshire Young Professionals’ Championship ahead of 29-year-old Seymour, run in conjunction with the main event and sponsored by Hampshire Patrons.

After securing a place at the PGA EuroPro Tour event at the Army Golf Club in August, he said: “I am absolutely delighted to win one of the Hampshire majors, especially as there was so much at stake.

“I am really happy to get an invite to the Tour event, which should be a great experience for me, and good for my confidence in the coming weeks.

“Mind you, it was a tough finish for me with a double bogey, bogey and par in the last three holes. However it was still two solid rounds.”

It was a bitter sweet week for Seymour who will take part in final qualifying for the Open on Tuesday at Woburn after stepping up as first reserve.

However that welcome news could not disguise his disappointment at failing to build on his splendid opening round, a four-under-par 67, two shots better than Hickling.      

He said: “I probably got what I deserved. I did not hole as many putts in the afternoon after playing really well early on.”