Devon County PGA Matchplay Championship

Woodbury Park Golf Club
Friday 11th and Sunday 13th April 2008

Devon County PGA Matchplay Championship Woodbury Park Golf Club Winner Sean Mason (Teign Valley) Runner-up Andy Norman (Woolacombe & Ilfracoombe) Semi-Finalists Paul Hendriksen (Fingle Glen) Mike Searle (Woodbury Park)

Sean Mason Match Play Champion

The end of season Devon PGA Matchplay took place last weekend at Woodbury Park Golf Club. The tournament was played over two days with the first two rounds on the Friday and the Semi Final and Final on the Sunday.

The top 16 players were seeded in the draw and this threw up some excellent early round matches. The only two surprises of the opening round were defeats for Neil Holman by 2&1 at the hands of home club touring professional Mike Searle and Barry Austin who lost to Royal North Devon Head Professional Iain Parker. Otherwise the matches went with the seedings and were in general extremely close. Duncan Arnold was unlucky to lose on the 21st to Ashley Moon.

At the end of a long days play, the semi final line up read Paul Hendriksen (Fingle Glen) versus Andy Norman (Woolacombe and Ilfracombe) and Sean Mason (Teign Valley) vs Mike Searle (Woodbury Park).

Paul and Andy had a great morning match both players made six birdies a piece but Andy just gained the upper hand in midround and ran out a comfortable 3 and 2 winner. In the second semi final, Sean took an early lead being four up after seven and held out for a similar winning margin.

The final between two good friends followed a similar pattern with Sean jumping quickly out of the blocks, hitting his usual superb iron shots, and after five holes he was four up. This was a huge mountain to climb, and although Andy threw everything he could at the game, Sean continued to do enough to answer him. Eventualy closing the game out 3 and 2.

The players had to battle strong winds and occasional wintry showers throughout the day, and with the golf course playing very long the matchplay proved a test of stamina as well as golfing skill. Norman who has been working hard on his game over the last few months has incorporated a few minor changes to his already impressive game, working on his grip and posture has given him, he feels a slightly higher ball flight. Sean who has been working on some major swing changes this winter, is now starting to see the results of all his hard work. He now feels comfortable again over the ball and his exceptional iron play which lifted him to number one spot in last season's West Region Order of Merit, has returned.

All the matches were played in a great spirit and Sean proved a very worthy winner. He has now completed a "hat trick" of Devon PGA Matchplay Titles and he is really looking forward to an exciting season which sees him teeing up in the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth where he will compete against the top European stars.

Devon PGA Captain Iain Parker commented "it's great to see Sean back on top form and to complete a `hatrick` with so many good players around is a really great achievement."

Friday 11th APRIL			Sunday 13th APRIL
ROUND 1		QUARTER FINALS	SEMI FINALS	FINAL
PAUL HENDRIKSEN	1	PAUL HENDRIKSEN	PAUL HENDRIKSEN	ANDY NORMAN
v (8.00am)
DAVID CURL	16
		v (12.25pm)
NICK COOK	9	ROBIN GOODEY
v (8.08am)
ROBIN GOODEY	8
ANDY NORMAN	5	ANDY NORMAN	ANDY NORMAN
v (8.15am)
CLIFF STRANGE	12
		v (12.35pm)
DUNCAN ARNOLD	13	ASHLEY MOON
v (8.23am)
ASHLEY MOON	4
JODY BEE	3	JODY BEE	SEAN MASON	SEAN MASON won 3/2
v (8.30am)
MARK TAYLOR	14
		v (12.45pm)
JAMES LANGMEAD	11	SEAN MASON
v (8.38am)
SEAN MASON	6
BARRY AUSTIN	7	IAIN PARKER	MIKE SEARLE
v (8.45am)
IAIN PARKER	10
		v (12.55pm)
MIKE SEARLE	15	MIKE SEARLE
v (8.53am)
NEIL HOLMAN	2