Home win for Whitelock at St Mellion

Local knowledge is vital over St Mellion’s famous Nicklaus course so it was no surprise that players with a close association with the club dominated the annual pro-am.

Home player Ross Whitelock claimed a two-shot victory with a flawless round over one of the toughest lay-outs in the West Country.

The 37-year-old Cornishman, who joined the club on becoming a late PGA member after a career at Staddon Heights, produced a flawless display with birdies at the seventh, 15^th and 17th for a three-under-par 69.

It was his first outright win since he joined the club although he shared top place with Richard Sadler (Newquay) at Carlyon Bay two years ago after a career on the mini-tours including the Europro.

James Ruth is attached to the next-door club China Fleet while Adam Frayne (Yelverton) spent his early days at St Mellion. They were joined in second on 71 by the promising Tom Hanson (Tiverton).

Steady Ruth made two birdies and dropped one shot, Frayne made five birdies and Hanson four.

Another Cornish-based player Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) was fifth on level par two shots ahead of another home assistant Connor Jenkins, Welshman Ryan Haskell and Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre).

On a day supported by Steve Bristow Stone Masonry another Cornish team of Gary Stone, Andrew Pelling and Simon Martin led by Adam Curtis (Bude & N. Cornwall) won the team prize on 13-under-par 85 in the shotgun start event.

O'Hanlon, with Paul Collins, Martin Raws and Hanna Dobrowski, finished runners-up one shot behind while Sherborne teaching pro Jon Bevan’s five birdies helped Taunton-based  Neil Mossman, Kobe Adams and Bob Tye into third on 81.