First year registered assistant Mark Rae won his first West Region tournament with a flawless round of four-under-par 66 in the Titleist-Footjoy League at Taunton Vale.
Although he was forced to share top spot with the consistent Russell Berry (Cleeve Hill), 22-year-old Rae, who has now signed on with head pro Leon Warne at The Grove at Porthcawl in South Wales, feels he is ready to make an impact in assistants' events.
A cheque for £289 was his first as a pro but he showed signs of consistency in his two previous League outings this year. He finished on plus three at Exeter and plus five at Stinchcombe Hill but was only 27th in the Assistants Championship at Mendip Spring.
He started with birdies at the opening two holes and added two more at five and nine to be out in 31. He did not make a mistake and returned with nine successive pars.
Berry also played the front nine in four under and was heading for outright success with two further birdies but he lost concentration just when it mattered and dropped his only shots on the final two holes.
But he recorded his second win of the season after a five-under 63 in the previous outing at Stinchcombe and he has now overtaken Welshman Matt Griffiths (Oakdale) at the top of the order of merit after three of the five rounds.