Fixtures/Results

The tenth event of the winter order of merit season took place last Thursday at Churston Golf Club. 32 pro's teed off at this popular venue, and the golf course, under Kelvin Miller's team, was in immaculate condition. The aprons and approaches to the greens were cut very tightly, and the whole course received much praise from all the players.

The weather on the day was good with only a light wind, but the pins were `unusually` all set within three to four paces of the back of the greens. This meant that if you went aggressively at the pins you almost certainly risked dropping a shot. This perhaps accounted for the general scoring being slightly disappointing.

There was though, one player in the field who made up for this. The `in form` Chris Gill who has a full time caddy now helping him in his tournaments, long time friend and former Head Greenkeeper at Downes Crediton, Andy Parker. Chris describes Andy as his `secret weapon` keeping him focused and relaxed during his rounds, and after back to back wins with Andy on the bag, this could be a very fruitful partnership in the season ahead.

The opening hole at Churston is one of the toughest starts in golf, a par three which with the tough back pin position was playing at 261 yards into the breeze. Chris smashed a three wood to 12 feet but then three putted for an opening bogey. He bounced back immediately on the second with a wedge from 93 yards from the fairway bunker which finished a foot from the pin. He added further birdies on five, nine, and eleven. His shot of the day though, was on the par 5 14th, off a downhill hanging lie, he cut a three wood from 251 yards to 8 feet from the pin. Chris commented "that was probably my best shot of the winter season, and I was really pleased as it was a high risk shot." He added "I have been hitting it great tee to green for the last 18 months, and I've really got so much confidence in my long game now, that I can't wait for the West Region tournament season to begin."

His win has forced him into second place in the order of merit which now looks like a three horse race, still headed by Barry Austin with Gill now in second and Ashley Moon (Okehampton) a further point behind in third place. Both Moon and Austin were disappointed with their rounds, but with Gill having to miss the next event at Stover due to his PGA Diploma commitments Moon and Austin will feel the order of merit title is still between them.

In second place on his own with 1 over par 71 was course specialist Paul Hendriksen representing Fingle Glen. Paul played much of his amateur golf representing Churston, and his 2nd place points have moved him up to 7th in the merit table.

There has been a shuffling of the pack in the race to make the 10 man team to represent Devon, and this looks like it will go right down to the last event of the season at Exeter in a months time.

Robin Goodey Devon PGA Vice Captain thanked Churston Golf Club for allowing the pro's to play at one of their favourite venues and presented the club with a cheque for £68 to boost their active Junior Coaching Programme at the club.

The 'Big Three' Moon, Gill and Austin battle for the Order of Merit Crown