Gill back on top after two years

After a series of disappointments Chris Gill returned to the winner’s circle after more than two years with a one-stroke success in the 41-team pro-am in the Truro Festival.

Gill, 36, and now club professional at Newquay after a lengthy career with several clubs in Devon, spent his early years striving to become a successful playing professional.

He won the West Order of Merit and qualified for the 2011 Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team but has concentrated more on his club job than playing recently.

He took an early lead with birdies at the second, seventh and tenth. He dropped his only shot at the 12th but a three at the last brought him home in three-under-par 64.

Although he won the Fourball Championship with Sean Mason (Exeter) last year, his last solo success was in the Exeter Ladies pro-am in 2013.

Yelverton’s Adam Frayne, who will certainly be one of the favourites for the Galvin Green PGA Assistants Championship at Coventry this week in view of his outstanding recent form, was heading for another victory until he lost a ball at the 17th.

His third bogey of the day, sandwiched between birdies at 16 and 18, following an eagle at the seventh and earlier birdies at the ninth and tenth, left him tied second with Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge), another of this season’s stars who will represent GB&I in the PGA Cup in California next month.

Hendriksen made birdies at the second, 11th and 18th, but his shot of the day came with an ace at the 176-yard 16th.

Rhys Enoch, the former Truro amateur now representing Celtic Manor as a Challenge Tour and Europro Tour professional making only his second appearance in the West, shared fourth on 66 with the consistent Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) and James Ruth (China Fleet), another player in form.

They were the only players to break par over the tricky 5,339-yard Cornish parkland course.

Russell Binney (St Austell), a former Truro assistant, led the Phil Chapman Construction team of Sam Tilsely, Stuart Nicholas and Jamie Carvana to success on the team awards on 17-under-par 117.

Enoch’s The Blades, including his father Steve Enoch and juniors Joe Reynard and Morgan Craven, were second on countback two shots behind.

They headed the main sponsors CAW team led David Dixon (Enmore Park) with Gary Pascoe, John Verran and Graham Cowls. They also pipped the Guy Cardy team of Killiam Feely, Jake Finn and Simon Finn, led by Tim Baker (Celtic Manor) on countback.