Fixtures/Results

One of the largest fields ever for a Devon PGA Medal met at the immaculate Exeter Golf and Country Club this Thursday, for the final event in the winter `Order of Merit` season.

The weather was mostly dry, but an exceptionally strong wind , sometimes gusting up to 45 miles per hour, made scoring very testing. The recent dry conditions have firmed up all the courses, and this combination meant mistakes were likely and unavoidable for even the best.

The day was also a contest at the top of the OOM between leader Barry Austin and Ashley Moon, who trailed by 8 points at the start of play. Although the main story of the day was their `heavy weight contest` other players were keen to play well, and fight for, the final spots on the `Ryder Cup` style teams to represent the County later in the year. Also up for grabs were the final standings for the match play championship, to be held in May where the top sixteen will go head to head .

There were some very good performances on the day with Peter Mitchell from Thurlstone finishing on a great score of 69 , he played beautifully controlled golf and mastered the conditions, having moved to Devon two years ago from Oxfordshire, he has sometimes struggled to master the windy conditions near the coast, but he now seems to be getting the hang of it !

Also in the prizes it was good to see Laura Eastwood back on form, she has recently joined Teign Valley where head pro Scott Aimiet always seems to bring out the best in his young `Touring Pro`s `.

The Hendriksen brothers also played well , and with the experienced Gary Milne and Neil Holman in the top placing this just about rounded of the rest of the days play.

The big story was, of course, was who would come out on top in the OOM. With both players never having been `Devon No 1` there was a cracking atmosphere on the first tee. Both player admitted later that the nerve endings were tingling !! Although Austin and Moon are widely regarded as two of the most `gifted` players in the South West, and the Counties`s most prolific winners, neither had previously produced the `season long consistency` needed to win the merit crown.

It was Barry who struck the first blows , birding the first from 12ft and the second from 18ft, Moon was reeling, but hit back with a birdie of his own on the par five 3rd. Both players were into their stride, and the distances and control from the tee with their driving was astounding. Moon in particular drove the ball massive distances and he constantly gave himself birdie chances.

It was Austin though who holed the vital putt`s even when he seemed to be in trouble. Both end`s of Barry`s game were strong, he matched Moon blow for blow from the tee, and he played with `a purpose and composure` which only a top player can find when they need it most.

His most important shots were great `scrambles` on the tough 15th where he holed a 25 ft par saver after finding trouble with his second, and perhaps the `shot of the season`, a bunker shot from a plugged lie tucked under the back lip of the greenside bunker on the 17th, a hole which had claimed a number of casualties throughout the day. He took extra time to gather himself, and played a miraculous explosion to within 3ft of the pin for the most unlikely `par save.` Barry commented " That was a special shot, and I will probably be telling the grandchildren about that one !"

This gave him the margin he needed, and he smashed a huge drive down 18 which set up an easy closing birdie on the par five, Moon knew his chance had gone, and although he had thrown everything at his opponent his `head dropped` and he finished with a careless bogey , he deserved to share first place on the day, but had to settle for a tie for 3rd place.

Moon said " Barry played great, and I needed him to make some mistakes to have a chance, he deserved to win, but I will come back next year and give it my best shot again."

The contest was played in a great atmosphere between two good friends, and nobody was more pleased for Barry than his opponent on the day. Both player`s are a credit to Devon Golf, and they are universally popular with their fellow Pro`s , a sign that `good guy`s` do win the big prizes.

Barry was delighted to get his hands on the one trophy in the County he has not won, and added. "I have played in every OOM year since the Devon PGA started, so I was beginning to think I might never win it ! this really is a special one for me."

Barry received warm applause from his friends in the room, when he received his OOM shield from Devon Captain Andy Norman at the prize giving ceremony .

In the over 45yrs Seniors prize, RND Head Pro Iain Parker was a clear winner, and this event will be boosted in the next few years by a number of players who reach the milestone age. The award is there to encourage the more `experienced` Pro`s who still want to play and compete, and next year Neil Holman will be among the contender`s trying to take the title of Seniors winner from Parker, who also won last year.

Chris Gill, who unfortunately had to miss the last two events, picked up the assistants trophy, and he will be again a major force in the West Region this Season.

Devon PGA captain Andy Norman from The Golf Company thanked everyone at Exeter for their hospitality and wished everyone success in the summer season ahead.

Click here for the final full Order of Merit listings.