MARK HILLSON WINS £400 + GEAR CONTRACT

FORMER CRAIGIELAW AMATEUR  DOING WELL AS A TRAINEE PRO Former Craigielaw amateur Mark HIllson, who reached quarter-finals at Formby of the 2009 British amateur championship won by Matteo Manassero has won the last PGA South Region 2012 Winter Series event with a two-under-par 70 at the Titleist and Footjoy Assistants and Trainees better-ball pro-am at Farnham Golf Club, Surrey.. Hillson, pictured, on the pro staff at Tandridge Golf Club, Surrey, earned a cheque for £400, plus a valuable Titleist and FootJoy ball, glove and shoe contract to set him up for the rest of the season. In showery and blustery conditions, Hillson was the only player out of a field of 52 to break par. Three-under-par on the final tee, he pulled his drive a little and found it stymied behind a tree. Rather than do a Bubba Watson, he opted to take his medicine and chip out sideways back on to the fairway. Hillson's putt on the final green narrowly missed for a par. The Scot said later: "Going for something heroic from behind a tree when I had three shots in hand didn't seem like a particularly smart strategy! "I've been striking the ball well for a while now and I played pretty well today, very solid, no really bad shots and made two or three good putts around the turn to keep things going. "On the other hand I didn't birdie any of the par fives, and missed quite a few putts - I drove to 10 feet on the par four seventh hole, only to watch it lip out for an eagle! But no complaints, the greens were very good and it's nice to get an early win under my belt."