Frayne charges to the top at Cumberwell

Adam Frayne drew on his experience of bigger stages to leap ahead after the first round of the 36-hole Players Championship at Cumberwell Park in a bid to win his first PGA in England and Wales (South West) Order of Merit event.

The 34-year-old second year PGA assistant at Yelverton, who abandoned the expensive life on mini-tours and the Challenge Tour, leapfrogged the field with a late six-under-par 65.

Frayne, whose greatest moment was competing at The Open at Hoylake in 2006, led last year’s West Assistants’ champion Toby Hunt (St Mellons) by one shot with Paul Jones (Canford Magna), Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) and Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew) a further shot behind.

He birdied the first and third holes before embarking on a golden run round the turn with four successive birdies from the ninth. He added two more at the 16th and 18th, but dropped his only two shots at the fifth and 14th.

After finishing joint runner-up in the previous OOM outing at Dudsbury, Frayne lies eighth in the rankings and is well placed to break into the top five and earn a Play-Off spot in Turkey.

Hunt fared even better at the turn where he picked up five shots in four holes with three birdies and an eagle three at the 11th. He also dropped two shots with the only fives on his card at the sixth and 15th.

Stephen Dodd, Matt Dearden (Llantrisant & Pontyclun) and Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Club/Asbri Golf) led the Welsh charge and shared sixth with Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) and Tom Jessamine  (Woodbury Park) on 68.