Hemstock pips Gavins in play-off

Billy Hemstock won the Clipper Logistics Championship at Moor Allerton Golf Club on Friday, beating Daniel Gavins in a play-off.

The pair finished tied on 12-under-par after 54 holes but it was agony for Gavins (De Vere Oulton Hall) who shot a course-record equalling seved-under 64 on the final day, only to lose by play-off for the second event running.

However, the Yorkshire man has guaranteed himself a 2014 Challenge Tour card, with a victory at Dale Hill coupled with his two second-placed finishes ensuring Gavins a place in the 888poker.com PGA Europro Tour Order of Merit top five.

When the pair finished tied for the lead they replayed the 18th as a sudden-death play-off.

However, Gavins’ tee shot strayed into the trees lining the right-hand side of the green and though he recovered for par, Hemstock (Teignmouth GC) got to the green in two and made four on the par-five closing hole to win the £10,000 winner’s cheque and a brand new Motocaddy trolley.

Hemstock shot an unblemished 66 in the final round but has been struggling for form in recent weeks. He failed to make it beyond the first stage of European Tour Q School and had missed the cut at his previous two Europro Tour events.

“It has been a tough few weeks,” he admitted. “I have been struggling with my form but I came here with no expectations and it has been a fantastic week.

“I played a lot, 13 out of 15 weeks, and travelling all over the place. I got a little bit stale towards the end and that makes you take a look at what you’re doing and reset the dial a little for the end of the season and I did that well.

“I felt I was doing a lot of things well, but I just wasn’t getting the results. I stayed patient and you have to check through what you’re doing and make sure it is the right things. Backing myself in those situations really helped this week.”

Marcus Armitage (Howley Hall GC) and 36-hole leader Ryan O’Neill (Penwortham Golf Club) tied for third with scores of nine under, with Ruaidhri McGee (Rosapenna), Greg Payne (Chobham Golf Club) and Order of Merit leader George Woolgar (Capitalservices) sharing fifth on seven under par.

Only the top 60 on the current Order of Merit have been invited to play the 888poker.com Tour Championships at Prince’s next month. Janne Kaske, who finishes the season 61st, misses out by just £57.25.

Highlights of the Clipper Logistics Championship will be broadcast at 8pm on Sky Sports 3 on Tuesday, October 8, repeated four times on Wednesday, October 9.