1st=
Barry Austin Downes Crediton GC 37 & 39 Points (4
under par)
1st= Chris Gill Exeter Golf & Country Club 37 & 39 Points (4
under par)
3rd Albert Mackenzie Saunton GC 35& 34 Points (3 over par)
Pro/Am
1st= Barry Austin & John Higgins Downes Crediton GC 41 & 42
Points (11 under par)
1st= Albert Mackenzie & Charlie West Saunton GC 43 & 40
Points (11 under par)
3rd Jason Avery & Brian Gilbert Saunton GC 41 & 40 Points
( 9 under par)
Am/Am
1st
Simon Knapman & James Warwick Chuston GC 40 &42
Points (10 under par)
2nd Graham Ruth & Mike Beveridge Tavistock GC 38 & 41 Points
(7 under par)
3rd Mark Haskell & Martin Spearman Teignmouth GC 38 & 40
Points (6 under par)
Wednesday 20th & Thursday 21st saw the Devon
Professional Golfers Alliance visit the beautiful seaside links of
Saunton Golf Club for
the fifth staging of the Saunton Festival.
The Annual event attracted a strong field of over 80 Professionals
and Amateur members of the DPGA with the tournament consisting of a
round over each of the two magnificent courses, the East on Wednesday
and the West on Thursday.
Both courses were in immaculate condition, which coupled with the
favourable weather conditions for January, meant there was some fine
scores posted on the leaderboard.
The Professionals Individual event was dominated
by two Professionals who always enjoy the challenge that the Saunton
courses pose, Barry
Austin of Downes Crediton Golf Club and Chris Gill of Exeter Golf & Country
Club. Both players posted identical scores on each of the days of 1
under par on the East Course and 3 under par over the West Course for
a total of 4 under par which left them 7 strokes clear of their nearest
challenger, home Professional , Albert Mackenzie on 3 over par.
Chris Gill who is one of the most consistent performers in the West
Region and regularly in the winners position seems to be starting 2009
were he left off in 2008. As always his accurate iron play and distance
control set him up for a plethora of birdie opportunities and a bit
more luck on the greens could have seen his score improved by five
or six shots and a victory outright. Austin felt that his accurate
driving from the tee which enabled him to attack the flags was the
key to his early season display .
The Pro/Am event saw 2 of the leading 3 Professionals in the shake
up for the leading spots with their Amateur partners. This time home
pair Albert Mackenzie & partner Charlie West shared top spot
with Downes Crediton pair Barry Austin & John Higgins with totals
of 11 under par. Mackenzie and West took control of the event on
the opening day with a fantastic score of 43 points, 7 under par,
over the testing Saunton East Course. Charlie West was in fine form,
especially over the front 9 holes taking advantage of his shot holes
to post a number of net birdies with Albert Mackenzie showing form
over the inward half. This gave them a first round lead of 1 shot
over another home pair and a 2 shot lead over a group of 3 including
Austin & Higgins. Day 2 saw Crediton pair Austin & Higgins
make a move for the front with a second round total of 42, 6 under
par, the highlight being an eigth iron from Higgins on the par 4
15th from 125 yards which spun sideways touched the hole and ended
5 feet away for a birdie three. It all seemed in vane though when
Mackenzie & West cruised to the turn in 5 under par, Mackenzie
playing some spectacular golf but an indifferent back nine of 1 over
par meant they had to take a share of the spoils . Following on in
3rd place came Saunton Assistant Professional Jason Avery and amateur
partner Brian Gilbert with a score of 9 under par.
The Am/Am saw Churston pair Simon Knapman and
James Warwick take the honours with two very consistent rounds of
40 &42 Points for a
total of 10 under par giving them a three shot victory over Tavistock
members Graham Ruth & Mike Beveridge . The key to Knapman & Warwick’s
victory over the two days was their consistency in the testing links
conditions where they had their fair share of birdies but were very
miserly with the dropped ones, only giving 3 shots back over the 36
holes . Following on in third place were the Teignmouth duo of Mark
Haskell & Martin Spearman who put together scores of 38 & 40
points for a 6 under par total.
At the presentation Barry Austin, the Alliance Captain, thanked Saunton
Golf Club for their hospitality and use of their wonderful courses.
Thanks were also given to Scott Amiet, the Teign Valley Professional
and Taylor Made Golf for organizing a draw that raised money for
the Devon County Juniors.
