FORMER European Tour player Stuart Little eagled his way to his first West win in almost two years in the North Wilts 125th anniversary pro-am.

The powerful left-handed teaching professional at Minchinhampton New Golf Club made the only two eagles of the day. He began the shotgun start limited-field event, dreamed up by host professional Graham Laing with a par, birdie, bogey and eagle.

After his three at the par-five fourth he holed his second shot on the 330-yard eighth and was the only player to card an eagle all day. But he was inconsistent so four bogeys restricted him to a two-under-par 69.

However he entered the winner’s circle for the first time since success at Tiverton and was joined by two of his best pals, the Dudsbury pair Mark Wiggett and Lee Thompson, whom he coaches. Thompson was the outright winner the previous year under the usual 36-hole format.

Wiggett was four-under-par until he bogeyed the ninth to turn in 33, but he returned in one-over 36. Thompson made birdies at the first and fourth and returned in par after two birdies and two bogeys.

The trio were two shots ahead of Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew), Russ Berry (Professional Golf Europe) and Ross Langdon (Gloucester).

Roy Holland (Long Ashton) led the winning team of Ross Porter, Ben Sawyer and George Worthington on 16-under-par 126, two better than Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) with John Angell, John Gaffney and Dan Farthing. Paul Jones (Canford Magna) led the ladies team of June Poffley, Jenny Wright and Annie James into third.

Clevedon’s Ashley Mansell, who is becoming the star newcomer of the year in the West, made one costly error in the Cotswold Edge pro-am when he dropped his only shot on the par five final hole.

The 24-year-old former Somerset county amateur regular reached five-under-par with his fifth birdie at the 17th, previously gaining shots at the fourth, seventh, tenth and 15th. Had he birdied the final hole he would have equalled the course record but he carved his tee-shot into the trees and had to chip out sideways.

Burnham and Berrow touring player Lee Corfield was already leader in the clubhouse on four-under-par 67. So Mansell’s bogey meant he shared top spot with Corfield although he was satisfied enough with his first pro-am win. He previously won two early-season Sprint assistants rounds.

Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre) was another player to suffer from one mistake. Taking seven at the par five third left him with much to do. But he completed his round with five birdies to share third on 68.

The consistent Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Club/Asbri Golf) and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) were also three-under. Dinsdale made five birdies and Thompson started with three in the first four holes.

Welsh Ryder Cup man Phillip Price and James Ruth (China Fleet), another player in scorching form, shared sixth on 69.

Ross Langdon, now back at Gloucester Golf Club as teaching professional after a spell at South Cerney, won the team prize on 15-under 127 with the host club’s first team members Ian Farrer, Gary Swift and Chris Young. The club’s juniors Hannah Brown-Pearce, Alex Godfree and Davis Newcombe, with Robin Goodey (Chipping Sodbury), were second on countback with Daryl Kelley (Filton) and the Pendragon Pedlers team of Warren Pendred, Alan Parnell and Pete Peachey third on 129.