HAVING learnt his trade on our local greens, a golfer still with plenty of Sussex ties celebrated his first European Senior Tour triumph last week.

Former Hill Barn member Simon P Brown survived a roller-coaster finish to seal a superb maiden victory in his rookie season on the tour at a rain-soaked Russian Open Golf Championship.

Despite a closing five holes which featured a double bogey, a bogey and three birdies, the 50-year-old sealed his victory of the season at Moscow Country Club after a closing 70 sealed a 12-under par 206 total.

Brown, who started playing at Hill Barn at the age of 11, looked entirely composed all week in his pursuit of a first title since gaining his card at Qualifying School in January.

Having turned pro at 16 he played at Goodwood and West Sussex before taking a teaching job in Germany, where he still lives with his wife Kerstin, and where has played most of his golf since.

He finished with a two-shot cushion over joint runners-up Mike Harwood and Carl Mason (both 68), while Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie (71) finished in a three-way tie for fourth, alongside Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin and Denmark’s Steen Tinning (both 72).

The win, in just his eighth European Senior Tour appearance, propels him from 51st to fifth in the Order of Merit t