Hamer has high hopes

MARTYN Hamer believes he can hold his nerve to reach the final stage of the European Tour School in Spain.

The 23-year-old from Chadderton Fold, who is aiming to win his tour playing card for the first time, was in a share of 27th place at the start of today’s fourth and final round at the first qualifying stage at The Oxfordshire. The top 30 go to Spain.

Hamer, who was five-under-par after three rounds, said: “If I can shoot level par or better I should make it.

“I am playing well and know what is needed after winning through last year at The Oxfordshire, where I holed a 10ft putt across a slope at the last to make sure I qualified.”

Hamer was two-over-par after the opening round, but hit back in sensational style with a course record equalling 64 on Thursday.

“It was my best-ever round and comprised nine birdies and a bogey when I found the water at the eighth,” he explained.

Hamer followed up with a one-over-par 73 yesterday.

Chris Wood, the amateur who finished third in this year’s Open Championship, heads the field with a 15-under-par total of 201.

THE draw for the opening foursomes at the Ryder Cup at Valhalla today was:

Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson v Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim; Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey v Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan; Justin Rose and Ian Poulter v Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell; Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia v Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk.