Ellis sparks with Colchester triumph

Ian Ellis (Great Yarmouth & Caister) notched eight birdies as he blitzed his way to a brilliant 64 in winning the Colchester Pro-Am.

Ellis’ superb six-under-par score left him a shot clear of James Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City).

The Norfolk golfer had been close to his best form in the preceding two days at the Order of Merit event in which the odd lapse left him in tied 15th.

But it was a different story in the pro-am as he enjoyed a birdie hat-trick to lie three-under after four holes.

Starting at the 11th, Ellis did leak a couple of shots at the 17th and 18th holes. But he got his round back on track with three birdies in four holes from the first.

And he closed out in top style, picking up a stroke at his last two holes.

Ruebotham followed his tied-third performance in the PGA East Region Bowl with another fine display. His 65 included an eagle.

Home-course professionals Mark Baker and Chris Cutchie were a further two strokes back, along with Mark Spooner (Glen Lodge).