Shaun is top Trainee

Shaun Collins (Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club) lifted the Marston’s Beer Company East Trainees crown after a thrilling two-round tussle at Bishop’s Stortford.

Collins, 26, put together scores of 69 and 72 to finish one clear as the only man to break par. 

His one-under tally of 141 saw him edge out runner-up Michael Moore (Pinner Hill) with Luke Bowers (Bourn Golf & Leisure) a further shot back in third.

It was a big win for Collins, who has recently completed the second year of his PGA Foundation degree.

Off from the 10th hole in the morning, he began in ideal fashion with a birdie three. Collins moved to three-under after just five holes before he hit a sticky patch.

Indeed, he’d dropped back to one-over with four to play but finished in storming fashion, notching three late birdies. That left him at two-under, trailing the halfway leader Bowers by a solitary stroke.

The breeze got up a little on a warm afternoon but Collins made good progress through his outward loop. He reached the turn in four-under for the championship before a double bogey at the short 15th threatened to derail his title challenge.

The tough par-4 16th saw him lose another stroke to the card but he held strong over the testing last two holes to triumph from Moore. The Middlesex golfer was also at one-under for the tournament, only to slip up at his penultimate hole.

Bowers’ bid for glory was badly damaged early in his afternoon round as he concluded his outward loop – holes 16 to 18 – with a trio of bogies from which he was unable to bounce back from. 

Darren Close (South Herts) finished in outright fourth spot at three-over, while Tom Clements (Eaton) and Ross Anderson (Finchley) were two shots further back in a share of fifth.