Double for record-breaking Hemstock

Europro Tour and Challenge Tour professional Billy Hemstock returned to Devon to shatter the course record in the annual Exeter Golf and Country Club charity pro-am.

Teignmouth’s former Devon county star shot eight-under par 61 over the new Exeter lay-out three shots better than the mark set by Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) in a Devon PGA medal earlier this year.

The 33-year-old is now in his second year of PGA training at Beaverbrook Golf Club in Leatherhead and a flawless round contained eight birdies. The first three came at the opening holes and he turned in three-under 32. His back nine of five-under 29 after gains on five of the final seven holes was even better.

Tom Hanson, the young Tiverton Golf Club assistant, clearly fancied his chances after carding nine birdies and dropping two shots on par threes. He ended with five successive birdies but seven-under 62 was only enough for the runners-up spot.

Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) claimed third on 64 with six birdies. Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) made seven to share fourth one shot further back with Scott Drummond, Stuart Little  (Minchinhampton) and Chris Gill (Newquay) who each profited with six birdies.

Such was the outstanding scoring on a dry day 21 of the 38 players broke par at a rearranged event cancelled last month because of rain and run this time by the Devon PGA.

A total of £4,500 was raised for this year’s club charity Force Cancer of Exeter.

Exeter’s golf manager Ben Martin, who organised the day with Christian Vine, the Devon PGA secretary, said: “It was a great disappointment to lose the pro-am on the original day but we made up for it with another great day which is always the highlight of the captain’s year.”

Hemstock completed a double as he also led the Marsh Ltd team to victory on countback as three teams totalled 17-under-par 89. He was helped by last year’s club captain Ian Black, Colin Papworth and Teignmouth Golf Club general manager Mark Haskell.

Hanson’s birdie haul helped the AECOM/Michaelmores trio of Exeter members Robert Gough, Martin Jose and Tony Cockayne into second ahead of club captain Keith Parnall with his own team of Paul Smale and Ian Ploughman alongside Barry Austin (Downes Crediton).