Career-best round for Askins

Christian Askins broke 70 for the first time in his career to share first place in the opening regional event of the season, the Assistants and Under-30 Pros Sprint, supported by Titleist & FootJoy, at Weston-super-Mare.

The Bridgend-born Radyr Golf Club assistant was later caught by the experienced Adam Frayne who has now settled down to life as a trainee at Yelverton after playing on the mini-tours.

Askins had just one regret after his first win –a triple-bogey seven on the 407-yard 12^th hole. This was sandwiched by a flurry of birdies at the tenth, 11^th, 13^th, 14^th and 16^th. He also picked up a shot on the eighth hole although two early bogeys left him at one-over-par at the turn.

Frayne, who was also out in 36 after a birdie at the seventh, made his second birdie at the 12^th – the hole where Askins struggled – and picked up further shots at the 16^th and 17^th to sign for 69. It was also his first win since he started playing in the region last July.

The big guns Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre), Joe Ferguson (Celtic Manor) and Cennyyd Mills (Pyle and Kenfig) followed on 70 alongside Leigh Jones (Tickenham).