Devon Features

Devon Fourball Championships

Monday 13th October 2008
Bovey Castle

Leading Scores

64 Iain Parker (RND) Ashley Moon (Okehampton)
64 Barry Austin (Crediton) James Martin (Crediton)
64 Chris Gill (Exeter) Gary Milne (Exeter)
66 Sean Mason (Teign Valley) Mike Searle (Woodbury)
67 Mike Wilson (RND) Dave Curl (Tiverton)

Fourball Champions
Parker & Moon celebrate!!

One of the most popular events on the Devon PGA calendar was played this Monday at the magnificent Bovey Castle. The course was in its usual immaculate condition and the weather, although breezy, was dry and warm.

Bovey is a great test of strategic golf, especially on the front nine, where the ability to shape your shots and control your distances is vital. The days event was well supported with 40 players, playing in pairs in a four ball better ball format.

Three teams tied with a score of 6 under par 64, which led to an exciting sudden death playoff. First score in the clubhouse was posted by Barry Austin and his assistant at Downes Crediton, James Martin. James played a supporting role as Barry blistered his way to 6 birdies, his form he feels is back to his very best, and his results over the last two months support that. His ability to shape shots is fantastic, and he feels that with further improvement to his pitching, he will again challenge for number one spot next year in the West Region OOM.

Next in the clubhouse were defending champions Iain Parker (RND) and Ashley Moon (Okehampton). Moon who has not played much golf over the last six months, hit top form after the pair had started slowly. He birdied the fifth, sixth and seventh and was really in the `zone`. The pair dropped a shot on the short par three ninth, but quickly bounced back when Parker birdied 10. Shot of the day was undoubtedly Moon's drive to the 14th, playing into the wind he crunched his driver on the short par four which touched the hole, and finished three feet away. He then holed the putt for an eagle two. The pair rounded off their score with a birdie on 18.

Playing two matches behind the in form Chris Gill and Exeter head Pro Gary Milne played steadily but really caught fire towards the end of their round, they finished with five birdies in the last six holes and knowing the clubhouse target, finished with three straight birdies to force their way into the playoff. The `in form` Gill has benefited from Gary`s help and encouragment this year, Milne is fast becoming the `Pro`s Coach` he is working with several local player`s, and is much in demand.

The atmosphere on the crowded first tee was electric, with players and spectators assembled with a birds eye view outside the clubhouse. With 317 yards to the pin all but one player chose to attack the green. Gill and Austin both finished pin high just to the left of the putting surface. Moon smashed a drive onto the front edge, and was the only player putting for eagle on the treacherous playoff hole. First to drop out of the playoff were Gill and Milne, when Gill failed to convert his eight footer for birdie. Austin had chipped stone dead from the edge of the green for a certain 3, this left Moon a tricky four and a half footer to keep the match alive, which he calmly holed.

On the tough dog leg second, Austin was in perfect position with the other three players facing much tougher approach shots. After the approach shots Barry had a 14 foot putt to win, which just slipped by, again Moon calmly holed from 6 feet to keep the play-off alive. The 3rd hole which is perhaps the toughest par 3 in South West England, was halved in par, both Moon and Austin again shaving the hole for birdie after great six iron shots .

The players moved onto the fourth extra hole the long par five, and with the light fading fast, the title was finally decided with a great birdie four from 12 feet by Parker, after the other players could only par.

Moon and Parker commented "this is a great event and we're delighted to hold onto our trophy, we knew the playoff was going to be tough as Barry and Gilly are in such great form, but we just hung in there and when the chance came we were able to take it." Parker added "I putted poorly all day, and Ash did most of the damage but on that final putt I managed to get a really positive thought, and we took our chance."

As captain of the Devon PGA, Iain Parker thanked everybody at Bovey, particularly Richard Lewis Head Pro and Golf Director for staging the event and hopefully we will be able to return to try for our hat-trick!!