Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club hosted its first major competition of 2025 on Sunday, as 61 members competed for the prestigious Brown Cup.

With reasonable conditions prevailing, the event saw some impressive scores, particularly among the lower-handicap players.

Dave Hillier, playing off a handicap of 6, emerged victorious with a nett 68, which included three birdies.

In a closely contested battle for second place, Ellis Taylor (8) secured the runner-up spot on countback with a nett 69, while Neil Megarry (6) finished third with the same score.

Meanwhile, the club has announced an exciting new sponsorship agreement with Jewson South West, marking the start of a Platinum Partnership.

This collaboration is a significant step forward in both organisations’ commitment to excellence and community development.

As the club’s Platinum Sponsor, Jewson South West will play a vital role in supporting its growth and future projects.

The sponsorship includes naming rights for the 1st and 18th holes, branding on the club scorecards, and the hosting of an Annual Golf Day for customers in July.

Andy Jordan, Regional Managing Director of Jewson South West, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. “We are thrilled to enter into this Platinum Partnership with Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our commitment to supporting local communities and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on the club and its members.”

As Somerset’s oldest links course, Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club boasts a rich tradition, a stunning course, and a welcoming atmosphere.

The new sponsorship deal represents a major milestone in the club’s ongoing efforts to enhance its facilities and provide members and visitors with a first-class golfing experience.

“We are delighted to welcome Jewson South West as our Club Platinum Partner,” said Glenn Ross, General Manager of Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club.

Karl Vilips had plenty to celebrate on Sunday, securing his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Puerto Rico Open and cashing a winner’s check worth nearly three-quarters of a million dollars.

But one unexpected moment may have topped it all getting a message from Tiger Woods himself.

The PGA Tour rookie was stunned to receive both a text and a voicemail from the 15-time major champion following his breakthrough win.

In fact, the realization that Woods had reached out seemed even harder to grasp than his own victory, which came in just his fourth career start.

“I got on my phone after the round and I was scrolling through, like who is texting me?” Vilips told reporters. “And I think I got one from a random number that called me as well. And then there was a voicemail saying, ‘It’s Tiger,’ and I couldn’t like process it in the moment.”

It’s easy to understand why. Winning on the PGA Tour is a whirlwind experience, and getting a personal message from one of the sport’s greatest legends only added to the surreal nature of the moment.

Woods had good reason to reach out so quickly Vilips is the first brand ambassador for Tiger’s new Sun Day Red apparel line, aside from Woods himself.

That’s an immediate return on investment. And while Vilips wasn’t sporting the signature red, he shares another connection with Tiger: both played college golf at Stanford.

“I was just trying to, I’ll get back to that later,” Vilips said. “But that’s pretty cool.”

“Pretty cool” might be an understatement. And if there’s anyone who would understand not getting an immediate call back after a PGA Tour win, it’s the guy who’s been in that position a record-tying 82 times.

Calum Hill delivered a stunning final-round performance to claim victory at the Joburg Open, making history as the first Scottish player to win the tournament.

The 30-year-old surged from eight shots back with an incredible eight-under-par 62 before prevailing in a dramatic three-man playoff against South African contenders Shaun Norris and Jacques Kruyswijk.

Hill’s brilliant final round featured five birdies and a bogey on each nine, marking the lowest round of the tournament.

Despite starting the day well behind overnight leader Norris, he steadily closed the gap while Norris faltered.

A crucial birdie on the 18th put Hill in the clubhouse lead at 14-under, forcing both South Africans to respond. Kruyswijk matched him with a birdie on the 17th, while Norris barely salvaged his spot in the playoff with a clutch putt at the last to shoot an even-par 70.

All three players made par on the first playoff hole, returning to the 18th tee for another showdown. This time, Norris’ tournament hopes unraveled when he found the water on his approach.

Kruyswijk had a five-foot putt to extend the contest but sent it racing past the hole, handing Hill the victory with a simple tap-in for par.

The win marks Hill’s second DP World Tour title, following his triumph at the Cazoo Classic in August 2021.

It also catapults him up the Race to Dubai rankings, moving him to 11th place. Reflecting on his first-ever playoff experience, Hill admitted the victory took him by surprise.

“It’s awesome. I think that might be my first play-off ever,” he told Sky Sports. “It was a little bit by surprise at the end I thought we’d have to go again but I’m delighted. It was a fantastic day and winning was the cherry on top.”

The final leaderboard saw Hill, Norris, and Kruyswijk finish tied at 14-under, with Dylan Frittelli one shot back at -13.

Danie van Tonder (-12), Scott Vincent (-11), and England’s John Robinson-Thompson (-10) rounded out the top finishers.

With this victory, Hill not only etches his name in Joburg Open history but also reaffirms his place among the rising stars in European golf.