Jason clinches Hesketh win after landing ambassador role

Jason Shufflebottom completed a memorable start to the season by winning the PGA Assistants' Championship North qualifying event at Hesketh Golf Club.

The Prestatyn-based Denbigh Golf Club player topped the leaderboard in difficult conditions at the Southport venue.

Final year assistant Shufflebottom carded a one under par round of 68 to edge out Matthew Dunbabin (Sandiway Golf Club), Calum Hey (Shipley Golf Club) and Nick Tibbetts (Carlisle Golf Club).

They now join 15 other qualifiers at the £32,000, Birdietime-supported, grand final which will be played at Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey between July 3-5.

But the victory came after the 29-year-old had been named as a junior ambassador for the Flintshire Golf Union.

“It’s all good at the moment,” said Shufflebottom.

“They approached me to work as an ambassador a few months ago and now it’s all been passed, so I’m looking forward to doing some work with the juniors and inspiring a bit more success in North Wales.

“I’m very fortunate to be in a positive environment with good coaching practices.”

Shufflebottom is a former Wales amateur International who studied in the USA before deciding to take the PGA route.

“It’s a big bad world out there, but I decided that if I couldn’t play for a living, I’d like to help others improve and my goal is to go for a coaching role. The PGA course gives me the chance to play as well.”

Shufflebottom says he was fortunate with the draw at Hesketh.

“I was first out and we played the first six holes with no wind, then it picked up a little bit,” he said.

“So I had a bit of luck with the draw as I managed a couple of birdies early on.

“Someone said to me at the end that they thought I was going to be all right when it came to qualifying for the final, but I thought the scores would’ve been lower.

“I’d been playing well all winter and fairly confident, I’d have been disappointed if I hadn’t so it’s always a relief to get the job done.”