Moor Hall professional Cameron Clark basked in the surprise evening sunshine yesterday after winning the Glazerite Trophy by a single stroke from Simon Lilly at Wellingborough GC.
Clark, who shot rounds of 69 and 68 to clinch the first Midland PGA Order of Merit event on the calendar, shone throughout.
"I played solidly all day," said Clark, who has an impeccable golfing pedigree. His father Ian is pro at Hagley and a former Midland PGA Captain while his brother Finlay, the pro at Blackwell, will assume the captaincy next year.
"I hit a few loose shots but was helped by not making any bogeys in the afternoon. I had a quick start with birdie, par and eagle, and then scored pars until my 16th which I birdied."
The warm weather and azure skies, while appealing to many, made life difficult for the field and Clark admitted feeling a little fatigued after 36 holes under a blazing sun. The fine cut glass trophy and a cheque for £2,000 will ease his aching, sunburnt limbs.
"I have not played that much really - perhaps a few winter pro-ams so it was quite tiring."
Lilly, who knows the Wellingborough course like the back of his hand having been the club pro for many years before moving to Kettering, fired rounds of 68 and 70 to finish on six under par ahead of a trio on 140. Neil Evans (Greetham Valley), Nick Soto (Northamptonshire County) and Daniel Greenwood (Forest Pines) shared joint third place on four-under.
William Barnes (RBE Golf) looked like taking the field by storm when he raced to 7-under par during his afternoon round having made three birdies during the day but the weather also got the better of him and he finished 3-under after 36 holes.
"It was an up and down round really," said the man from Whittington, who runs his own short game academy near Lichfield.
"I think I am probably just not match fit for 36 holes, particularly in this hot weather. If it was at the end of the season two rounds wouldn't be a problem but fatigue meant I let a few shots go."
The leading three players will qualify for the end of season Srixon PGA Play-Offs at Royal Liverpool.