Golf ace books spot in national final

The 24-year-old came through a five-way play-off for the last four places in the south qualifying event at the Lambourne Club in Berkshire last Thursday.

Hastings-based Nessling, of Cooden Beach Golf Club, was due out in the last group at 2.20pm, but heavy rain, thunder and lightning caused several delays in play, and his tee time was put back to 4.30pm.

Nessling’s round started slowly and by the eighth he was three-over-par, but a birdie on the ninth got him moving in the right direction. As the light deteriorated, he managed to get back to +1, but a bogey on the 18th and a birdie from playing partner David Corsby, of Fleetwood GC, meant that both players finished on +2.

In very little light, the five players sharing 16th place headed to the ninth tee to battle it out for the last four of the 19 qualifying spots.

Nessling drilled a three iron down the middle of the fairway. He was last to play his second shot and as the others faltered with their approaches, Nessling hit a wedge to two feet, setting up a birdie three which sealed his qualifying spot.

The Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship Final will take place at Blairgowrie GC Lansdowne in Scotland from August 5-8.

The previous Friday, Nessling won the professional individual element of the Sussex Professional Golf Union Royal Eastbourne Pro-Am. The former ARK William Parker Academy pupil carded a one-under-par 69 to win by one shot from Alan Harrison, of the host club. James Doswell, formerly of Highwoods GC and now Willingdon GC, finished joint third at +2.