NORTH Hampshire golfing ace Justin Rose has been named as the winner of the Gazette Sports Personality of the Year award for 2013.

The Hook golfer achieved a lifetime ambition last year, securing victory in the US Open at Merion to become the first English winner of a Major championship since 1996.

Now Rose has beaten off competition from nine other contenders from a wide range of sports to claim the coveted Gazette award at the Basingstoke and Deane Sports Awards.

Basingstoke Bison netminder Dean Skinns was the runner-up, with Basingstoke and North Hants CC captain Dan Coombs claiming third place.

Rose has endured a slow start to 2014, being hampered by a shoulder injury that forced him to pull out of last weekend’s Honda Classic.

However, the world number seven is due to return to action today, teeing it up at the Cadillac Championship, the second World Golf Championship event of the season.

Unfortunately, Rose was not able to attend last Friday’s awards evening, which took place at the Apollo Hotel, in Basingstoke.

The prestigious event saw awards handed out in various categories – and a four-page special is inside today’s Gazette, starting on page 37.