David Mills' early season form suggests he is more than capable of making 2003 a year to remember.

Qualifying for the EuroPro Tour and the National Club Pro championship was followed by winning the Sussex PGU Spring Meeting at Willingdon.

This confirmed his reputation as one of the most consistent performers in the county.

The Seaford professional prospered on a perfect day of low scoring when leading from start to finish with rounds of 67 and 68 for a three under par 135 to leave his nearest challengers three strokes adrift.

According to Mills, the day's work was achieved with nothing spectacular, "just pretty solid golf." Never one to over-elaborate, Mills' golf is very much like the man.

The only time he flirted with danger was at the 16th on his second round. There his tee shot almost found the bushes but a masterly chip helped add another birdie to a nicely balanced 18 holes.

Simon Buckley, his playing partner, went even better with a four under 65, easily the best of the day.

It was also the lowest competitive round of Buckley's career but, unfortunately, he took 77 in the morning when he might have been on another planet.

It was on the back nine that Buckley started to put it together. After picking up a birdie on the third, he repeated the performance at eight, 11, 12, 14 and 16. It would have been seven birdies but a two-footer stayed out at 17. But why the 12 stroke difference between rounds? The answer was going out of bounds at 14 and 18. When he and Mills were cooking with gas after lunch they strung together seven consecutive birdies and their better-ball score entered the realms of fantasy.

Alterations to one of the tees at the last hole disorientated more than one competitor. Tim Spence's 70 put him in contention at the halfway stage. And after three-putting the 17th he drove too far to the right at the last when he claimed his overall view of what lay ahead was affected.

This was a blow as he had been two under par leaving the 16th green. Another post-lunch blot was a double bogey at the par three fifth when his tee shot stuck under a bank and obstinately refused to roll back onto the green.

Dean Plant, the Willingdon assistant, who fancied himself to win, trailed by one stroke after 18, with birdies at eight, 12, 13, 14 and 16. This purple patch was marred by a six at 15 and his second round went pear shaped when taking eight at the sixth after being trapped in trees and unable to take a drop. The first five holes were parred so this was one local blossom that withered on the vine.

The target was set by Charlie Giddins and Jason Partridge on 138. This was matched by Jamie Harris after holder Paul Lyons, two under on the 12th fairway, hit a bad run and hung a 75 around his neck.

Mills, winner in 2001, only needed to keep his head while others, like Alan Tyson, had their moments. In the morning Tyson had a stunning eagle at the 12th - drive, one iron to two feet and tap-in. Of the entire field Tyson was an exception in carrying such a straight-faced club that seems to have gone out of fashion.

Mark Jarvis, after a tidy opening 71, began six, five and then had four birdies in the next seven holes and came back in 32 for a commendable 68.

If there was a tale of woe it was related by Harris who four-putted the fifth including a careless one-handed air shot. "I just didn't make contact," confessed the honest Nevill assistant who had no need to be ashamed of finishing joint runner-up to a man who has never aimed and missed in his professional life.

So Mills took the £450 cheque from a £2,500 prize fund backed by Hilary Crowe with a contribution from Jimmy Farrell, an SPGU vice-president and Willingdon member.

Final scores:

135 David Mills (Seaford) 67, 68.

138 Jamie Harris (The Nevill) 68, 70; Jason Partridge (Piltdown) 69, 69; Alan Tyson (Horam Park) 69, 69; Charlie Giddins (Hastings) 69, 69.

139 Tony Hilton (Mid Sussex) 70, 69; Mark Jarvis (Wellshurst) 71, 68.

140 Giles Velvick (Horam Park) 72, 68; Dean Plant (Willingdon) 68, 72.

141 Carl Rota (Avisford Park) 70, 71; Tim Spence (Battle) 70, 71; Mark Stuart-William (East Brighton) 70, 71.

142 Simon Buckley (Ham Manor) 77, 65.

143 Robert Lowles (Seaford Head) 72, 71; Charles Ledger (Hassocks) 70, 73; Paul Lyons (Sweetwoods Park) 75, 68.

144 Ben Knight (Chartham Park) 73, 71; Steve Fenn (East Brighton) 73, 71.