Fixtures/Results

The golf course was as usual in great condition, with the greens very quick for this time of year. This is a particularly colourful time of year with the trees at their autumn best, Downes Crediton rewards accuracy from the tee, and with the pins set in some very testing positions good iron play was also essential.

This was certainly the combination used by the winning Pro, Teign Valley`s in form Sean Mason. Sean who has played superbly all season in winning the West Region OOM, felt that his iron play had been the best of the year. He was consistently hitting crisp irons and was almost knocking the pins out! His shot of the day was on the narrow 4th hole after splitting the fairway with his tee shot he played a full wedge which pitched a couple of feet past the pin, spun back and lipped out resting an inch from the cup for one of his three front nine birdies. He made four more birdies on the back nine and also missed four short putts of around 5ft, he felt that his round should have been much lower than 67.

In a tie for second place on 68 were Exeter`s Mark Taylor who continues to impress in only his second season as a Pro. Now coached by boss Gary Milne he looks to be improving every time he plays. Also on 68 was Andy Norman who remarkably had ten threes in his round, Andy has really found his best form in the last few months and just loves being out competing against the best players. Slightly disappointed to finish second was home Pro Barry Austin. Barry had an excellent round going 3 under par and standing with a wedge in his hand for his second shot to the tricky par 5 twelfth, he was deflated only to make par which felt like a dropped shot, and he lost some momentum. He finished with two dropped shots on 17 and 18, both tough holes, and had to be content with runner`s up spot.

On 69 was experienced Torbay Teaching Guru Neil Holman. Neil who runs one of the busiest teaching programmes in the County had seven birdies in his round. He manages to fit in as much golf as he can around his busy teaching schedule and when the putts start dropping he is a match for anyone, his determination and course management skills being his obvious strengths. Also on 69 was Exminster`s Jody Bee, Jody who has been hooked by Fly Fishing recently, took time away from the river to recapture some good form on the golf course!!

Both Mason and Austin face the biggest week of their season as they prepare for the PGA National Playoffs, at Hollinwell Colf Club in Notts. Their high West Region OOM positions have opened the door to the possibilities of a Number of European Tour event`s if they can come out on top against the cream of the UK`s Regional Players next week, all the Pro`s in Devon would love to see them make it, Sean already has a place booked in the Tours flagship event the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next Season and success at Hollinwell could open the door to another five main Euro Tour starts, and several Challenge Tour events.

Devon PGA captain Ashley Moon thanked everybody at Downes Crediton for hosting the Tournament and also the day`s sponsor`s, leading golf shoe brand FOOTJOY.