First pro win for Collins

Luke Collins won for the first time as a professional in the third West Assistants and Under 30s Pro Sprint leg at Cumberwell Park.

The 29-year-old former Mendip Spring amateur, who is now a trainee at Tall Pines, shot two-under-par 69 over the blue and red nines at the Wiltshire course, sharing top place with promising Chippenham newcomer Ross McCance and experienced multiple-winner Cennydd Mills (Pyle and Kenfig).

Collins, once a member of the England Elite squad playing off an impressive plus-four handicap, won the Finnish Amateur championship and represented England in the Nations Cup. But three unsuccessful years on the Europro Tour prompted him to join The PGA and sign up with Alex Murray.

He picked up two shots on the first nine but a bogey at the 11^th was offset by a two at the 16^th. McCance’s chances of an outright win faltered with his bogey four at the same hole after four birdies from the fifth, which he bogeyed. Mills also slipped up with a bogey at the 17^th after also making four earlier birdies and one bogey.                                             

Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre) and Ross Langdon (South Cerney) were the only two other players to better par on while Jack Wallace (Thurlestone) and Richard Woods (Dainton Park) were level.

Adam Frayne (Yelverton), who finished eighth on 72, leads the order of merit with one event remaining at Woodbury Park on May 22. The leading five players receive a goods package from Titleist & FootJoy.