WINDERMERE Golf Club professional Simon Edwards produced a string of birdies during the PGA North Taylor Made Overseas pro-am in Portugal.

In winning the tournament by nine shots, the Welshman – who has more than 250 event wins as a PGA professional – returned 23 birdies over four rounds with an eagle thrown in for good measure.

Retaining the trophy he won last year, Edwards was thrilled to showcase some impressive golf so early in the golfing calendar.

"I am delighted that I played so well against a quality field around some tremendous courses,” he said.

“It is always fantastic to open the season with a win, and to defend the title I won in 2013 is an excellent achievement.”

Edwards – a coach at his new Lake District Golf Academy at Windermere Golf Club – trailed Mossock Hall's David Shacklady by a shot after posting a 69 in the first round at Oceanico.

He added a 67 the next day at Laranjal, a 65 at Quinta Do Lago before closing with a 69 at Monte Rei to leave the rest of the field trailing in his wake.   

Richard O'Hanlon, from Cornwall club the Point at Polzeath, claimed second place, two strokes ahead of Oak Royal's Jeff Mathews.