Gill triumphs in first season

Devonian Chris Gill ended his debut season in Cornwall by winning the Cornwall County Professional Golfers' Alliance Championship at his first attempt at Carlyon Bay. 

The former PGA Cup player, 34, who left Exeter to become club professional at Newquay, shot a one-under-par 71 over the cliff-top hotel course to beat home player Paul Turpin by one shot.

Nick Rogers (Falmouth) and Grant Slater (Trevose) carded 74, Richard Sadler (Killiow) 75 followed by Katie Rule (Tehidy Park) and Steve Bonham (Falmouth) on 76.

He said: “It’s been a good year and the Alliance has been fantastic. I’ve enjoyed every minute. Considering I am not practicing I have been playing okay and was satisfied being 18^th in the Saunton Classic and look for greater improvement.”

He made it a double by joining amateurs Mike Richards (Whitsand Bay) and Richard Johnson (Carlyon Bay) in winning the team award for the Brian Gripe Trophy. Six-handicapper Chris Jackson (Carlyon Bay) became the amateur champion with 39 points.

The consistent Sadler was the Order of Merit champion with Gill runner up while Carlyon Bay’s Will Sumner claimed the season’s amateur award.