SEMI-PRO footballer Nick Peare has clearly been able to hone his golfing skills in the close season as he won the Birthday Vase at Cirencester Golf Club on Sunday with a sparkling nett 64, writes Danny Hall.

Peare, a sports teacher at Ciren College who played for Yate Town last season, was pipped for the Monthly Medal in May but made no mistake on this occasion.

Peare, a former Shortwood United player, overcame a very shaky bogey, triple bogey start but steadied the ship and played the final 16 holes in one over par to win by two shots from Rob Simmonds and Gavin Allen who came in with nett 66s.

The 11-handicap winner was automatically cut a shot but his recent fine form has led to a further discretionary two-shot ‘exceptional scoring reduction’ and he is now off 7.6.

Jeremy Holman-Green (67) and Toby Harris (68) filled the fourth and fifth slots. Toby shot the lowest gross score of the day with his 72.

Seventeen birdie twos were recorded with Gavin Allen gaining a remarkable trio of them on the 2nd, 13th and 18th holes. Special mention too for Lewis Flett whose deuce came on the par four 6th.

Congratulations to Tom Gavan who backed up his recent win in the Centenary Putter by lifting the winter/spring knockout competition for the Ellett Cup. Tom beat Chris Yeates in the final.