Onwards and upwards for Bath’s Hannam

Bath assistant PGA Professional James Hannam is looking to put past disappointments behind him when he competes in the Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship final at Coventry.

Hannam, 32, narrowly missed out on two championship finals last year, including a particularly galling experience when he and his amateur partner were denied a place in the PGA National Pro-Am Championship final at Gleneagles by the very last pair to return to the clubhouse.

But Hannam, who played as an amateur for 10 years before turning pro, said he came into this term full of confidence that he could break his qualifying hoodoo.

He was proved right when he came through the regional qualifier at Exeter to secure a place in the £32,500 final on August 5-7.

“One thing about golf is that you do have to take the rough with the smooth,” Hannam admitted.

“It was difficult to come so close last year, especially in the Lombard Trophy, but you can’t dwell on them, you just have to take it and be ready to go when your next opportunity comes along.

“So I’m delighted to have made the final of this, although I’m not getting ahead of myself – I’m just going to take it one step at a time.

“I’ve never been to Coventry but from what I’ve heard it should suit me. It’s supposed to be a bit narrower than most, I prefer that to some other courses which favour the big hitters.”

Hannam has been a keen golfer his entire life, and worked in a pro shop when he was 18 before leaving to compete in amateur events across the country.

He now studies on The PGA Foundation Degree Programme while working as an assistant professional at Bath Golf Club.

“I love golf and everything that comes with it,” Hannam enthused.

“Before I turned pro I was an amateur for a number of years, and I had loads of jobs that I did purely to raise the money to support my playing.

“I was a postman, a taxi driver and a window cleaner, among other things.

“I’m really delighted that I’m now involved full time, and I just want to see where that can take me.

“If that is a playing career then that would be great. But if not I am really enjoying the coaching side of things at the moment, and it is something I would really like to be involved with in the future.”

Other players from the west region competing in the final include: Daniel Clark (Remedy Oak), Christopher O’Neill (Valleys Golf Enterprise), Rachel Lewis (Vale Resort), Luke Collins (Tall Pines), Adam Frayne (Yelverton), Daniel Keitch (Brean) and Steven Buzza (Clifton Hill).