Chris Smith achieved a career milestone by securing a maiden victory on the Gosling’s Moongate Tour at Tucker’s Point Golf Club on Friday.

The 43-year-old professional carded a five-over 75 to finish tied for first with amateur Oliver Betschart.

“Finally pulled out a win. I tied with Oliver but a first is a first and I’ll take it any day,” an elated Smith told The Royal Gazette.

“I am very excited finally and it’s all down to me starting to play and practice more. I have gotten myself into the gym so I am getting fitter and starting to feel a little bit better, stronger, which played a big part today.

“The golf course was playing extremely tough; the greens were very fast and it was very windy.

“But my game felt good and I was pleased with way I played. It was a great day.”

Betschart, the 2024 Gosling’s Moongate Tour Championship winner, savoured success at the first attempt having missed last month’s season opener at Port Royal Golf Course.

“I had a good time out there,” he said.

“There were definitely a few frustrating moments. But overall I felt like I was striking the ball really well.

“I’m confident in where my game is right now, and it feels like things are trending in the right direction.

“The biggest challenge was definitely the greens. They were firm and fast, which made putting tough.

“We had a little bit of wind throughout the round but it wasn’t too bad.”

Rounding off the top three was professional Nick Jones and amateur Kenny Leseur, who finished tied for second a shot back of Smith and Betschart.

Jones, who finished seventh at last month’s Trinidad & Tobago Open in the Caribbean, was happy to bounce back from a poor start and finish strongly.

“I had a couple of three putts but just worked on my game. I was six over for the first four holes and kept it steady from there, so pretty happy with that round,” he said.

Securing a second straight top-ten finish was professional Tariqah Walikraam, one of two women in the field, who shot 82 to finish tied for eighth.

“Despite having four double bogeys, I still managed to squeeze in another top ten finish, which feels great and I am very grateful,“ she said.

“It was uphill battle and very challenging with the pin placements. It was very challenging just trying to get up and down. A few greens I was on in two and had about three, three putts.

“Just lipped out so many times. I lipped out at least seven or eight times for par. So many silly bogeys and the wind was gusting.

“The greens were also very firm, so it was hard to get the ball to stay on the green, and the only two birdies I got were tap ins.”