Hanson recovers well at Cottingham

Having qualified comfortably for the Renewable Service Group Pro-Am at Cottingham Parks Golf Club on Thursday Chris Hanson carded a first round with six birdies, five bogeys and one double bogey to be tied 21st at the end of play on one over par.

His second round of three under yesterday also contained six birdies but this time only three bogeys took the edge off a good recovery in the final round for the former winner.

The overnight leader had been Matthew Marsh from Hallowes on five under who went on to win the event.

Just after his round Hanson tweeted, "Three under today in a sneaky wind!! Played alright, just kept it a bit more in play! Hope to finish well up!!"

In the end it gave the Woodsome Hall player a share of third place.

Champion Marsh admitted he won’t be going on a spending spree though after picking up a career best £4,000 cheque for winning the tournament.

Most of the money will be used to clear my credit card,” said the teaching professional at Sheffield club Hallowes. But he promised to give himself a “small treat” on his 26th birthday later this month.

This was my 10th victory since I joined the paid ranks in 2005 but my first in the region so it’s been a long time coming,” he observed.

Marsh, who also competes on the EuroPro Tour, added a 70 to his opening of 67 to finish on seven-under-par and three ahead of Chorley’s Mark Bradley, a former PGA North Region champion.

It was a bit of an up and down round,” he conceded. “Not many pars but plenty of birdies and bogeys. But this is a tight course with tree-lined fairways so you are punished if you go off line. I stuck to my game plan I used in the qualifier and first round by keeping the ball out of trouble.” 

The event was filmed by Green Light TV and will be shown on Sky.

SCORES: 137 Matthew Marsh (Hallowes) 67 70; 140 Mark Bradley (Chorley) 71 69; 142 Chris Hanson (Woodsome Hall) 73 69, Martyn Hamer (Ellesmere) 70 72, John Wells (Cherry Burton) 69 73; 144 Jon Cheetham (Styal) 71 73, George Cowan (Westerhope) 72 72, Steve Parry (NW Golf School) 73 71; 145 John Cheetham (Marriott Worsley Park) 75 70, Chris Mathews (Mytton Hall) 71 74.