Phil Collier, who has been a member less than a year, is the new champion at Frilford Heath.

And he fully earned his success as the championship was held over 54 holes for the first time.

The 28-year-old medicinal chemist had to endure a four-hole play-off before beating Sean Elliott.

Collier, who is a two-handicap, joined Frilford from Lahinch, the great links course on the west coast of Ireland.

Frilford used all three of their courses for the championship, with the first 36 being played on the Blue & Green in atrocious weather conditions.

Sean Elliott, winner of the Frilford Heath Gold Medal competition earlier in the year, led the 30 qualifiers for the final round with a level par 141, one shot ahead of Ashley Walton and Collier.

Elliott scored a two-under-par 71 round the Red Course, but Collier drew level with a 70 to take the championship into a four-hole play off.

Collier made an outstanding birdie on the first hole and retained the advantage throughout the three remaining holes.

Young junior, Eddie Pepperell, came through to beat Walton on countback for third place.

Matt Fairlie retaining the nett prize, for the John Fisher Cup with a 74 on the Green and 82 on the Blue giving him a gross score of 156 and a nett score of 134 for the two rounds.

Club Championship: 1 P Collier 212 (after play-off), 2 S Elliott 212 , 3 E Pepperell 219 (cb), A Walton 219, D Gavrilovic 222, P Bickerton 224.