Devon County PGA Features

Reports of achievements by Devon Pros

Devon Fourball Championships

Devon Fourball Championships Monday 8th October 2007 Bovey Castle Leading Scores 65 Ashley Moon / Iain Parker 66 Gary Milne / Mark Taylor 66 Laura Eastwood / Lester Barnes 66 Barry Austin / James Martin The Devon Pros played the annual Fourball Championship at Bovey Castle this Monday. Sixteen pairs played on the day, with some very strong established partnerships, and some fresh faces making a first appearance in this popular event. The course was presented in superb condition, and with some very difficult pin placements accuracy with approach shots was very important. The improvements and changes to the golf course over the last few years, have really enhanced an already beautifully course. The front nine is regarded as the tougher stretch of the course, with several testing shots over water and tight tee shots, there is always the danger of big numbers. The back nine offers more birdie opportunities, but the golf course presents a superb all round challenge, good enough to feature in Golf Monthly`s top 100 courses. Winning score on the day was a superb round of 65 from the in form Ashley Moon, Okehampton, and playing partner Iain Parker, Royal North Devon. The pair who worked together at Yelverton and Ferndown for eleven years, know each others games inside out and they were able to dovetail well on the day.

Captain & Vice Fourball Champions Iain Parker doing a stretch!!

The result was a huge surprise to RND Head Pro Parker as he has been struggling all season with back trouble, which has meant that he has had to miss much of the year. In fact this was the first time he had played in five weeks, not wanting to let playing partner Moon down he decided to have a go. In fact the pair made a blistering start as they stood three under par after four holes.

Perhaps the shot of the day was Parker`s five iron on the tough par three, 210yrd 3rd hole, which finished four feet from the pin for a birdie 2. With its island green this is possibly the most demanding par three in the County.

The pair continued the good work picking up another birdie on no 8, before being scuttled by an indifferent run of three dropped shots in four holes. They regrouped and took advantage of the easier stretch of the course to pick up four birdies in the next four holes. This great run was just enough to secure victory, and although two more birdie chances just slipped bye, they were happy to rescue a round that had seemed to be slipping away.

Moon who was sending drives fifty yards past his playing partners, had 5 birdies with Parker adding 4 more, Moon felt they had gone to sleep around the turn thinking all the hard work had been done. Parker was just delighted to finnish 18 holes, and now with his back showing signs of improving he is looking forward to playing golf again in the winter Medal Order Of Merit events which start this week.

In runners up spots were Barry Austin and his assistant James Martin from Downes Crediton, Exeter`s Gary Milne and assistant Mark Taylor, and Torquay`s Lester Barnes who partnered Tavistock`s Laura Eastwood, all three pairs scoring 66. Lester`s trousers very much in the Ian Poulter mould, brought much amusement to his fellow pro`s he seems to have adopted Poulter's flamboyant dress sense, let`s hope his golf is just as dazzling this season.

Devon PGA Captain Ashley Moon thanked everybody at Bovey Castle for a great days golf, and looked forward to returning next year to defend the title.