Fixtures/Results

The 6th Annual RND Pro Am was staged the day before the Open Championship, giving all the players a chance to play in true links conditions. The golf course was presented superbly with the greenkeeping team hand cutting the greens, to add extra pace to the already swift surfaces.

The weather conditions were very challenging all day, with at least a four club wind and squally showers, play on the back nine holes was really tough, indicated by only one amateur player being able to find the 18th hole measuring 410yds in the regulation 2 shots.

This was a day though of great scoring at the top of the leaderboard, by a good number of the Pro`s. Exeter`s Chris Gill put together a flawless 5 under par 67, Chris described it as, by far his best of the season. Chris has been struggling this season by his own very high standards. He was though back at a course he loves and normally plays very well on. This brought out the best in last seasons West Region No.1. He felt in confident mood all day, and controlled the flight of his approach shots beautifully, he now hopes that this result will kick start the second half of his season.

In second spot was Churstons Paul Hendriksen his 69 was also an excellent return in the tough conditions, again Paul is a course and distance specialist, having played the famous old links well both as an amateur and a Pro.

On a day when level par was a good score it was always going to be tough for the teams to get a really low total, it was no surprise then that a local Saunton team, led by Pro Andy Knight came out on top in the Pro Am competition. Andy himself started the ball rolling brilliantly with 4 birdies in the first 5 holes, he could not hold on to his own individual score unfortunately, but was always on hand to help his team from the Chivenor Air Sea Rescue helicopter, to compile a 13 under par winning total. Team captain Steve Morrish a long time supporter of the Devon PGA was also delighted to win.

The days golf was as usual superbly organised by RND Club Pro Mike Wilson, and his work over the last six years in establishing the `5th major` is very much appreciated by all the Pros. Mike and Head RND Pro Iain Parker presented the prizes and thanked everybody at the club especially new Club Manager Mark Evans and Greenkeeper Neil Crawley for their help on the day.