VERTIGO has laid low club professional Mark Winterburn this year, but it failed to prevent him hitting a tournament high.

The Forest Park Golf Club head pro returned to his former Malton & Norton GC swinging-ground to land the Yorkshire Professional Golfers’ Association Pro-Am tournament.

And Winterburn signed off the current competitive circuit in style. He posted an impressive five-under-par 67 to win the event by one shot from former Heworth GC professional Neil Cheetham, who has played on the European Tour this season.

Said Winterburn: “The way I’ve been hit by vertigo this year meant I was only concentrating on getting round the course without fainting or feeling dizzy.

“In fact, at one point I considered pulling out, but with it being the last tournament and at Malton & Norton as well, I thought I’d give it a go.

“I would have been pleased just to negotiate the round without any trouble, but to shoot five-under and also beat someone of the calibre of Neil Cheetham was a big boost.

“It’s a great way to sign off the season.”

The victory was the first Winterburn had accomplished on the Yorkshire PGA calendar since finishing tied for first place with three other players in the Yorkshire PGA Masters held at Fulford GC four years ago.

He admitted that his competitive outings had been restricted this year because of the attacks of vertigo, which is understood to have affected his inner ear after a viral infection.

“It’s an awful feeling because it just makes you feel faint, so I am quite chuffed to win.”

Another boost for Winterburn was that the long-awaited return to the winning groove was achieved at a Malton & Norton course where he was assistant pro for four years to then head pro Steve Robinson.

“It was great to go back and win and the course was in perfect nick,” he said.

“It was the best condition course I have played all this year.”

JOHN Smith, the former manager and clerk of the course at York Racecourse, won Fulford GC’s midweek medal with a seven-under-par nett 65 to trim his handicap from 12 to 11.

Meanwhile, Fulford GC president David Falgate won the club’s annual president’s putter with a six-under 138 after two rounds of 69.

PHIL Ryan won Forest Park GC’s Harold Crossley Cup with a nett 64 edging out Allan Swift and Steve Fowler, who both carded 65.