Devon double for Austin
30/05/2017
Barry Austin completed a Devon PGA double by adding the matchplay championship to the strokeplay title he won a month earlier.
The 46-year-old Downes Credition club professional was seldom extended as he waltzed through the early rounds at Tiverton. He shortened all his matches by winning the first three by 6 & 5 and it only took him 54 holes out of the scheduled 72 to be crowned champion.
In the first round he beat Neil Holman to inflict the largest defeat of the Torbay Golf Centre owner’s 46-year amateur and professional career. Duncan Arnold (The Warren) and late replacement Jack Venn (Borrington Park) suffered the same fate.
In the final he met Gary Milne (Woodbury Park) in a match reminiscent of the pair’s duels 30 years ago in their amateur days. This time the margin was 4&3.
The leading five seeds from order of merit went out in the first round. Top seed Tom Jessamine (Exeter) lost to Devon Greenslade (Crediton), Ben Martin (Exeter) lost to Venn , Christian Vine (Woodbury Park) lost to Arnold, Richard Woods (Dainton Park) was beaten by Nicky Maddison (Saunton ) and home professional and senior order of merit winner David Sheppard lost to Milne by one hole.
Venn then beat Devon captain Ali Welsher (Tiverton) on the 19th while former England Schools international and Torbay Golf Centre assistant Harry Mayers beat Kevin Harper (East Devon) 2&1 and former England international Maddison (Saunton) 2&1 before losing to Milne in the semi-finals 2&1
Austin shot five-under-par 66 in the second round of the strokeplay at Tavistock with six of his seven birdies coming over the final ten holes. This followed an opening 71. Maddison and Harper led after first round 68s but Maddison finished two shots behind Austin after 71.
Harper slipped back to fifth after 76 while occasional player Ashley Moon (Okehampton) shot 71 and 70 to take third two shots ahead of Jessamine.
Despite a disappointing final event Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) won the order of merit . Sheppard claimed the seniors’ order of merit. Milne was seniors’ champion and Maddison was the under 30's champion.
