First win for Crane at Naunton Downs

Cotswold Edge assistant Kristian Crane won his first professional event after sharing top spot with Luke Collins (Tall Pines) and amateur Alex Ireland (Brickhampton Court) in the Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal at Naunton Downs.

The trio returned four-under par rounds of 67 on Wednesday as Collins won for a fourth time this season, while the promising Ireland recorded his second success on a dry and calm day in the Cotswolds.

The winning scores were compiled in differing ways. Ireland covered the front nine in 32 strokes before improving his score by another shot on the homeward run. Five of Collins’ seven birdies came on the back nine as he also secured the Birdie Sweep.

Welshman Crane was the steadiest player after going out in 33 with seven pars and two birdies. He made further gains at the par five 10th and 13th and another at the 18^th after a solitary bogey at the sharp dogleg 15th.

Brickhampton Court’s Ross Langdon, Mark Plummer (Cirencester) and Henbury assistant Luke Derrick shared fourth on 69, one ahead of host pro Nick Ellis, the only other player to better par.

For a full list of results from the Naunton Downs Medal click here.