First West win for Whitelock

Ross Whitelock won his first event since joining the PGA four years ago after a career playing professionally on mini-tours.

The 35-year-old St Mellion player (above) shot three-under-par 69 at the cliff-top Carlyon Bay course in the 29th annual pro-am to share top spot with Richard Sadler (Killiow).

Despite an unpromising start – he dropped shots at the third and sixth – he rallied with birdies at the seventh, eighth, 10th and 16th on a windless, calm and bright day beside the seaside.

Sadler, who spent nine years in America on golf scholarships and playing on the Nike Tour, has settled for life as a club pro and now rarely ventures outside his native Cornwall where he is dominant in Alliance fixtures.

Despite only occasional appearances he has won in each of the last two seasons, at Stover and Newquay. He also dropped two early shots on the second and fifth, but never looked back as he birdied the seventh, eighth, tenth and 15th holes.

Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) continued a run of good form by claiming third on 70 with four birdies after dropping two shots on the first four holes.

Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew), another consistent player, and former European Seniors Tour winner George Ryall (Burnham & Berrow), former PGA champion Scott Drummond and victorious PGA Cup captain Jon Bevan (Sherborne) shared fourth on 71.

Truro assistant Ben Pill, playing in his first pro-am, excelled with level par 72 on his debut. He shared eighth with Christian Vine (Woodbury Park), Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) and home player Paul Turpin.

Carlyon Bay club professional Mark Rowe led the winning T Cunningham team of Will Sumner, Gerald Allen and Peter Broomfield on 18-under-par 126. Sadler’s Blackler Snelling trio of Keith Grigg, Alan Lund and Malcolm Sutton shot 129, beating Ryall’s team of Tim Searle, Neil Husband and Sam Crocker on countback.

The day was supported by Brend Hotels and raised a further substantial sum for Cornwall Hospice Care.