Fixtures/Results

Thurlestone golf course is arguably the most scenic in Britain and with the views taking in the cliffs, beaches and Burgh Island are very similar to Pebble Beach in California. The course was presented in excellent condition with the greens putting very well even after some winter maintenance work.

The competition was played in a three club wind which made scoring fairly testing. This makes the winning score of 66, 5 under par by Exminster's Jody Bee quite remarkable. Jody who has felt that his temperament has sometimes let him down in Pro events now seems to be fulfilling his undoubted potential.

He started in spectacular fashion smashing his opening green on the short par four first to twenty feet for a two putt birdie. He then bogeyed the second before going on a run of 6 threes in a row. the run came to an unexpected end on the ninth green after he missed from four feet for another great birdie to be out in 29.

He felt that although he added two more birdies on the back nine, he did not take full advantage on the easier downwind holes. His short game has seen the biggest improvement in recent weeks, both his chipping and putting have improved considerably. He is enjoying being on the golf course and his renewed enthusiasm is down to coaching from his swing mentor based outside of the county.

Jody's success comes hot on the heels of another young player winning in the last event, Dan Hendrikson and Jody commented, 'it's great to see the young guys doing well now and the more often we win the more our confidence will improve.'

In second place on three under par 68 were a group of four players. Barry Austin who left at least four shots out on the golf course was pleased with his iron play and is looking forward to competing in this years Exeter half marathon, The Great West Run to raise money for a local charity. Friends from their school days, Nick Cook and Ashley Moon also tied on 68 with another Plymouth based player Laura Eastwood. Laura is really playing some great golf just now and although she competes against the Pro's from the red ladies tees her performances have shown that she has all the talent to compete successfully on the Ladies European Tour.

Moon was particularly pleased with his long irons which he has replaced with hybrid utility irons. The confidence he has with these clubs, lets him capitalise on the par fives where his length off the tee gives him an advantage.

Devon PGA Captain Ashley Moon (Okehampton) commented "the strength and depth now with the professionals in the county has really improved, instead of only half a dozen players having the chance to win events, we now have 20 potential winners of each event." This progress has been fantastic over the last 18 months and with the older and more experienced players passing on their accumulated knowledge, the future looks very bright. Hopefully in the next few years this will be translated into one or more players making their way onto the European Tour.

Ash Moon thanked everybody at Thurlestone for staging the event and looked forward to returning next year.