Colin Gillies, the PGA in Scotland Tartan Tour’s all-time leading money-winner and a well-known figure through various roles since retiring as a player, has passed away at the age of 58. The proud Falkirk man turned professional in 1984, the year after he beat Calum Innes at the 38th hole in the final to win the Scottish Boys’ Championship at Dunbar. He enjoyed a remarkable success rate in the paid ranks, winning 125 times in total on the Scottish circuit, including the Scottish PGA Championship in 1995 and 1998. In the first of those victories, Gillies pipped Andrew Coltart, now part of the Sky Sports Golf team, by a shot at Dalmahoy before he then finished two shots ahead of Alan Tait when regaining the coveted crown at Newmachar. “Colin was a stalwart of the Tartan Tour for 30-plus years and one of the most successful players in the history of the domestic circuit,” said Michael MacDougall, a former PGA in Scotland tournament director then secretary who now works for Paul Lawrie’s Five Star Sports Agency. “A prolific winner, he was fiercely competitive and always played the game with integrity.” Craig Ronald, the 2004 Scottish PGA champion, said he had been “shocked and saddened” by the news and said that Gillies had been a “legend of the Tartan Tour”. He added: “Colin was a good friend we shared many good times representing the pga of Scotland in team events, he had a great sense of humour and was an unbelievable player, hence why he is still the highest ever earner on the Tartan Tour. A good man taken far too soon. My deepest condolences to all the Gillies family.” Gillies, who made 30 appearances on DP World Tour, picking up around €13,500, was an assistant professional to winning Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher at Wentworth in the mid-1980s. “He was one of my best assistants,” said Gallacher. “He was an excellent player and all the members liked him. In fact one member wanted to sponsor him on Tour, but he declined because he missed home too much and went back to Scotland.” It was in 2011, the year he became the first Tartan Tour player to break through the £500,000 mark in career earnings, that he announced his retirement after 27 seasons on the Scottish circuit. “Due to all the aches and pains I have now, I just can’t do what I used to do anymore and the frustration has got to me,” he said at the time. Gillies worked for Affordable Golf in East Kilbride for a spell after returning to his roots in 2018 to become a tournament controller with the PGA in Scotland. "They've all been really good and, at the end of the day, I know the highs and lows of trying to make a living on the Tartan Tour,” he said of that career development. "I won the most money during my time on the circuit. I don't know if that means I was the best or was just out there too long. "It will be three years right now since I was on a golf course playing," he said. "I don't actually own a set of golf clubs now, I'm ashamed to say. I kept a couple of old putters for old time's sake but that's it. "When I've done it all my life and had a bit of success doing it, when injuries kick in there's too much frustration and not satisfaction. "It was great when it lasted and I have absolutely no regrets as it was good fun. But now I've got a new career in golf and I'm enjoying it."