Hodkinson cements place in final

Adam Hodkinson continued to rebuild his golf career by winning the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship North qualifier at Penwortham.

The Chorlton-Cum-Hardy Golf Club assistant was ready to turn his back on the game and train as a bricklayer when he was hit by injury.

Hodkinson had been playing on the Alps Tour but a broken wrist kept him out of action.

At that point he was ready to switch careers and go to college in Sheffield with a view to becoming a builder.

But his father stepped in and urged him to stick with golf.

Hodkinson decided to train as a PGA Professional and he was rewarded with victory at the Preston venue.

He carded a one under par round of 68 to win by two shots ahead of Matthew Dixon  (High Legh Park Golf Club), Anthony Dempsey  (Helsby Golf Club), Peter Latimer  (Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club), Timothy Dykes and Olly Whiteley  (Bramall Park Golf Club)

In all, 18 qualifiers will head for the £32,500 grand final to be held at Coventry Golf Club between August 5-7.

But Hodkinson, a second year PGA trainee, admitted he was not on the best of form.

“I was surprised I won to be honest,” he said.

“I played terribly at times so I didn’t expect to see my name at the top of the leaderboard  with  a score of one under par.

“But I’m looking forward to the final now - I’ve never played Coventry before so I’ll get down there and have a practice round beforehand.

“I didn’t play in this event last year as I had ‘golfer’s elbow’ for much of the season.”

Hodkinson says he is glad he stuck with golf and believes he has made the right decision.

“When I was on the Alps Tour, I was injured and then you tend to lose sponsorship,” he said.

“I thought about a career change - and I still do  bit of brickie’s work in the winter!

“But my dad wanted me to stay with golf.

“Doing the PGA course gives me more options, I’m coaching more now but still finding time to play.”