Shropshire golfer Billy Mills' high five

Shropshire professional Billy Mills headed in to a four-month break from tournament golf in high spirits.

The 24-year-old from Shawbury finished fifth in the final 1836 Tour event of the year at West Lancs.

It represented the third time in four events that Mills finished in the top five as he carded a one-over-par 73 in tricky conditions.

Mills has made an encouraging start to his professional career, producing a host of encouraging tournament statistics including hitting 64 of 72 greens in his four outings on the 1836 Tour.

The former Shropshire & Herefordshire amateur is now preparing for a hectic 2012 when he will split his time between the EuroPro, Jamega and 1836 Tours.