Fixtures/Results

The Devon pros met at an immaculate East Devon Golf Club for their 6th event of the winter series and the last before the Christmas break. To celebrate the festive period most of the professionals turned up on the first tee in festive headwear which injected some good humoured banter amongst the pros. Duncan Arnold (Hele Park) & his caddie Lee won the award for the best hats on display. Infact they brought 4 hats between them to cover all weather possibilities.

On the golf course scoring was pretty tough, with a swirling breeze making club selection particularly difficult on the cliff top holes. The greens as usual for east Devon were in superb condition. The club are currently extending several holes to meet the challenges of the modern game. Anyone who visits East Devon next season and plays the extended course will be in for a much stiffer challenge.

Winning score on the day was a 2 under par returned by Woodbury Park tournament professional Mike Searle. Mike who has attempted to qualify for the main European tour in the past 2 seasons is a powerful and accomplished player. He decided to play because East Devon is close to his home and it proved a good decision on a course he knows well. He went on a run around the turn of 4 birdies in 5 holes and was making the game look easy with a combination of power hitting and a deft touch around the greens. Standing 5 under par with 3 holes to play east Devon's tricky finish caught him out as he finished with three 5's which spoiled what would have been a truly great round. Mike who has not played many Devon events hopes to compete more in the new year to keep his game sharp though the remaining winter months.

In second place was Hele Park Golf club professional Stuart Disney. Stuart over the last few years has been working hard to gain his PGA masters diploma and is now one of the most qualified PGA professionals in England. It was nice therefore to see him back on the golf course and playing so well.

In third place came Fingle Glen Professional Paul Hendrickson who has recently spent a couple of weeks in the USA taking advantage of some warm weather golf. It was also nice to see Sean Mason return safely from a two week trip to Argentina where he was competing in the first 2 Challenge tour events of the season. Sean commented; "It was a great experience playing these events but coming home makes you realise how lucky we all are to live in a beautiful county like Devon".

At the half way stage of the season the order of merit is a very close run affair with 6 players within a dozen points of long time leader Andy Norman. With so many players hot on his heels the challenge for the order of merit leaders Yellow headcover, presented after each event is sure to be a closely fought contest which looks likely to go down to the wire.

Devon PGA Captain Ashley Moon thanked everyone at East Devon for their hospitality, particularly head green keeper Paul Newcome who always presents the course in immaculate condition.