Hickling denies Lee-on-Solent golfer Scott a remarkable golfing trophy hat-trick

The Stoneham assistant pro won the Be Wiser Insurance PGA in Hants Masters with a superb 12 under par total of 132 .

Scott, attached to Lee-on-the Solent, finished four strokes behind after successive 68s while Barton on Sea’s Finbar Kane came in third, five shots further adrift.

Hickling was delighted to get the victory after setting down a marker with an opening 65 and finished the day with four eagles.

He said: ‘There is always quite a bit of pressure playing on your home course and I haven’t done well here in regional pro-ams.

‘So I was quite determined to do well in this one. I thought if I could get to double figures (under par) for the day I did not think anyone would catch me up.

‘I decided to keep pushing forward, rather than getting negative. A couple of eagles were relatively straightforward but I made a couple of nice ones as well.”

Hickling paid tribute to Scott, winner of the Match Play Championship and Stroke Play Championship in his debut season on the circuit.

‘Hats off to Lewis, he’s had a great start to his pro career,’ added Hickling. ‘But I did not want to get beaten by him round my home track.

‘He hunted me down but I stood firm, which was very pleasing.’

Hickling finished ahead of Scott at Stoneham days later when his club hosted a PGA South pro-am.

Hickling finished tied third on 40 points with Scott - along with James Ablett, among others - tied 5th on 39.