O'Hanlon wins British Par-3 title

Club pro Richard O’Hanlon, from Lanhydrock Golf Club, saw off competition from European Tour pros Oliver Fisher, Andy Marshall, Graeme Storm and former Welsh World Cup player Mark Mouland to become the 2010 Farmfoods British Par-3 Champion.

At the unique Nailcote Hall hotel course near Coventry, O’ Hanlon returned a six under par total after 36 holes - a stroke clear of his nearest rivals only nine of whom broke par.

O'Hanlon had his former assistant European Tour ace Robert Rock in the gallery which helped, he said, to inspire him.

“Robert's one of my best mates and walked all 18 holes with me today. When he was my assistant, he won the Midland PGA order of merit and won this event, too.  Now he’s on the Tour and a hero of mine and my ambition is to play a few Tour events with him” said O’ Hanlon.

The Former St Thomas’ Priory pro, now based at Llanhydrock in Cornwall, stole the advantage on day two of the championship from overnight leaders Mouland and Marshall with a solid three under par round of 51 to take the clubhouse lead. Mouland had a chance to take the event to a play-off but three-putted the last to hand victory to O'Hanlon, the 2006 Midland Order of Merit winner.

O'Hanlon won his first PGA West Region Order of Merit event last week at the Forest Classic and hopes to qualify for the BMW PGA Championships at Wentworth next May by winning the local moneylist.