A GOLF pro rushed home from a tournament in Portugal just hours after arriving when he realised his first baby was on her way more than five weeks early.

A GOLF pro rushed home from a tournament in Portugal just hours after arriving - when his first baby decided to make her entrance five weeks early.

Kelvin Vince had to fly back from the Algarve the morning after he arrived after his wife Jemma was taken to hospital.

Mr and Mrs Vince are today now proud parents to little Isabella Violet, who was born last Sunday.

Isabella, born five-and-a-half weeks premature and weighing in at 5lb 4oz, is currently doing well in the special care baby unit at Ipswich Hospital.

Mr Vince had been due to represent Rushmere Golf Club with amateur partner Richard Larkins in the Lombard Trophy, Europe's biggest pro-am, last Friday and Saturday.

But Mr Vince, 31, of Ipswich, said his wife's waters had broken on the Wednesday.

He said: “My wife called me from the hospital. I got on the 7.40am back to Gatwick and my parents picked me up and took me straight up to Ipswich Hospital.

“My wife hadn't given birth. I was relieved. I definitely wanted to make sure I got back. She ended up having the baby on Sunday afternoon.

“Both mother and baby are doing well. I am feeling great and fantastic. It's all been very exciting.

“I didn't play in the tournament, but Richard soldiered on, on his own.”

Rushmere Golf Club finished in last place, but Mr Larkins said: “I've come all this distance, so there's no point in just watching others. I know I won't have much of a chance playing without Kelvin, but he's always said he wanted to be there for the birth.”

Mr Vince and Mr Larkins had won the Lombard Trophy's East Anglia regional final back in May.

The other pairs taking part were from around the UK.

Do have a story to tell? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk