Hanson no longer the new kid on the block

Tiverton Golf Club’s Tom Hanson insists he has banished any thoughts of being a fish out of water as he prepares for this year’s Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship Final.

Hanson qualified for the 2016 event as one of the youngest competitors taking part at Little Aston Golf Club near Birmingham.

Even he admitted to feeling out of his depth at first. But then he produced a display which saw him clinch a joint 10th placed finish.

And that means he approaches the final 12 months later with renewed self-belief and aiming to climb even higher on the leaderboard.

The £32,000 showpiece event takes place at Coxmoor Golf club in Nottinghamshire between August 2-4 - and it holds no fear for the 20-year-old Devon Assistant whose caddy will be his father John.

“Last year I won the regional qualifier and was gutted not to do the same thing this year, I came second when I was beaten by two shots by Greg Davies,” he explained.

“But it was my first year of PGA training and I didn’t really know what to expect.  I’d like to improve because last year I rocked up thinking I was maybe a bit out of my depth, I wasn’t sure what would happen.

“Then I had some of the Galvin Green goodies from winning the qualifier and other players were asking me where I’d got it from. Once they knew I’d won the qualifying event then I felt as though I’d properly earned my place and could have a decent event here.

“In fact I was a bit disappointed to finish where I did as I shot level par in the final round, that moved me backwards not forwards.”

Hanson admitted there was a point when he felt he could have the leader - and eventual winner - Matt Webb in his sights.

“I felt like I could get closer to him at one stage and climb up the leaderboard but I fell back. But now I feel stronger and more experienced than I was this time last year - I was on of the youngest there last year but I don’t feel like almost a ‘kid’ any more,” he added.

“it’s certainly do-able and there’s a few of us up there, you don’t get into the final groups of an event like that if you’re not a good player.”

Other players from the West of England competing at Coxmoor include:  Greg Davies (South Cerney Golf Course); Dom Narramore (Dorset Golf & Country Club); Max Billingsley (St Kew Golf Club);  Dan Guy (Torbay Golf Centre); Ashley Mansell (Clevedon Golf Club); Kieron Fowler  (Lyme Regis Golf Club); and  Nick Ramshaw (Bristol & Clifton Golf Club)