2024 Platinum
Now, after his two-under 70, he'll lead 22 other Midland qualifiers in the Glenmuir Club Professional Championship final at Woodhall Spa, 14 - 17 June, where the winner picks up £10,000 from a prize fund of £78,000.
And among those finishing a shot behind Mountford was Moor Hall pro', Cameron Clark, who, despite dropping shots at three of the four par-3's, still managed to muster pull together a tidy round, including holing a 70-yard sand wedge for a birdie at the 516-yard 17th.
Mountford, who's been head pro' at the Tamworth-in-Arden club for 10 years (and nine before that as an assistant), didn't miss a putt from anything under 10 feet, his longest twice that distance.
His finest shot of the round came at the long 13th where, from the right rough into the wind, he cut a superb 3-wood 230 yards just short of the green, and collected a birdie with a chip and a putt.
Sharing top spot with the Midlander was King's Lynn's Paul Mayo, but although he matched Mountford's inward 36, he lost out on the last three holes to settle the destination of the sponsors' commemorative glassware. The 29-year-old impressed throughout, particularly by launching a 4-iron 160 yards from among the trees to the right of the 417-yard 15th, which finished two feet from the flag. Like Mountford, he had five birdies and three bogeys in his round.
Simon Collingwood, who had a go at qualifying for the European Tour a few years ago ("I was overawed by it all, and now that I've got a young family I know what's best for me in the profession"), got off to a flier, firing three birdies in the first four holes, but a back nine of two bogeys and seven pars still gave him a fine 71.
On the same score was 28-year-old Richard Copsey from Enville. He finished in style, holing an uphill 25 footer for a birdie at the last. By coincidence he played Woodhall Spa two weeks ago and was hugely impressed. "I loved playing it; I just hope I can do myself justice in the final."
The women's qualifying round was won by Lysa Jones from Oaks in North Yorkshire. She compiled an accomplished two-under 71, two shots clear of Sara Clinton from Herne Bay.