A bogey-free round in testing conditions set up a first victory for Ross Overton (Nottinghamshire) in the Midlands Union Mid Amateur Championship at Coventry GC.
The county stalwart collected his 23rd Midlands title on the back of rounds of 69 (-4) and then an afternoon 76 when strong winds and heavy showers made low scoring virtually impossible.
But it was the 47-year-old’s morning effort which stood out. He birdied every par five and parred the rest to open up a three-shot lead and extended that to five as the 67 entrants battled the deteriorating weather. Lincolnshire’s Craig Toyne was second thanks to two 75s.
For Ross it was 13th time lucky in an event that has previously narrowly eluded the former England boys interntional.
“The morning round was one of the best I’ve put together in a long time when you consider the conditions,” said Ross. “It’s one of the very few times I have gone bogey free and after lunch I knew no one would jump out of the pack.
“In the afternoon I took a couple of decisions to eliminate the bad score which meant bogeys but I knew I had that wriggle room.”
The victory represented a great start to the year which has extra significance for the Sherwood Forest player. It is the 30th consecutive season playing for the Notts first team and his 35th year representing the county at all levels.