Ben Hutchinson secured full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour for 2027 after topping the Clutch Pro Tour’s season-long Order of Merit.
Howley Hall-based Ben secured top spot in the points race with a second-place finish in the Tour Championship at Slaley Hall in Northumberland, which was won by Paul McBride.
Paul posted a 10 under-par total in the 54-hole event to take home the £8,000 winner’s cheque, claim his third win of the season on the Clutch Pro Tour, and finish second in the Order of Merit as Ben finished two shots back on eight under-par.
The runner-up finish at Slaley Hall, where double order of merit points were up for grabs, added to Ben’s stellar season on the Clutch Pro Tour, which included victory in the Caddy Club Championship at Ingrebourne Links, T2 finishes in the Crondon Park Classic and the Motocaddy Championship at Bishop’s Stortford, and a T4 finish in the Rapsodo Championship at St Mellion.
“I’m buzzing to be heading to the HotelPlanner Tour,” said Ben following the Tour Championship. “You put the hard work in with the aim of achieving that, and to do it is fantastic. I played well at Ingrebourne and came into the last event hoping for a steady tournament to stay in the top three. I played lovely to get the job done.”
Three full HotelPlanner Tour cards were available this season – with Ben, Paul and Giles Evans securing those. Meanwhile, Jon Hopkins, OJ Farrell, Joe Long and Callum Davison completed the top seven in the Order of Merit and earned seven HotelPlanner Tour invites each for next season.
For the full Order of Merit table, click here.
For the full results from the Tour Championship, click here.
