ADAM Wootton hailed winning the Berks, Bucks & Oxon PGA Championship as his biggest success since turning professional.

Wootton secured the county title following a mammoth seven-hole play-off at his home course of Southfield.

The 23-year-old, an Oxford City member for more than ten years, finished level on 141 with defending champion Paul Newman (East Berks) before eventually triumphing.

Wootton said: “I’m very pleased. It was a long, tiring day and nearly dark at the end.

“I got the title in the end, which was the main thing.

“This was my biggest win since turning professional.

“It is probably the main event of the year in the region, so I was very excited to win it.”

“My legs certainly felt it at the end,” added Wootton, who played 43 holes in the day.

The sudden-death play-off saw Wootton and Newman halve holes one, two and nine twice on successive loops.

Finally, on the third time they played the first, Wootton was able to convert a birdie from five feet and take the title.

Wootton said: “Paul holed a 12-foot putt for par, so that forced me to hole out.

“In my head I didn’t really expect him to hole it, but I kept calm and finished it off.”

Wootton opened with a one-under-par 69 and shot a 72 in the afternoon, while Newman carded 70, 71.

Sonning’s Clive Bowler, a former City member, finished third on 142, while Studley Wood’s Dusan Gavrilovic was joint fourth on 143.

Wootton, who is based at Oxford Golf Centre, plans to enter qualifying for the Open and next year’s PGA Championship at Wentworth.

He said: “At the moment, my aim is to win as much money as possible to help pay for tour school at the end of this year.”

Wootton’s caddie was fellow Oxford City Jonny Stevens, whose contribution he praised.

“It was great to have him on the bag when I was under pressure,” he said.