Hendriksen's on a roll

Paul Hendriksen warmed up for the first Order of Merit tournament of the season by setting a new course record in winning the Radyr pro-am.

The Ivybridge professional-manager shot six-under-par 64 the day after finishing runner-up to Ashley Mansell at Tiverton.

He is now clear favourite to win the 36-hole Total Triumph Classic at  0ake Manor on Thursday and Friday on a course where he always fares well.

He is seeking his third successive win and has again set himself the target of winning the OOM and qualifying again both for the end-of-season Play-Offs and PGA Cup team.

He started with a birdie and added an eagle at the fifth between three dropped shots. Then he carded six birdies in the final 11 holes for a back nine of five-under 29 to lead back-to-form Michael  Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) by two shots.

Watson made five birdies. So did James Ruth (China Fleet), joint third on 67, with Richard Dinsdale (Asbri Golf) who made four and Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) whose three were boosted by an eagle at the eighth.

Ten players bettered par on a warm, drizzly day, putting on greens Hendriksen described as “almost as good as Wentworth” after his appearance in the PGA Championship.

Jon Bevan (Sherborne) and Chris O'Neill (Cardiff) returned 68 while George Ryall (Burnham & Berrow), Ashley Mansell (Clevedon) and Mark Searle (High Post) shot 69.

Barrie Forster (North Wits) led the Robertsons Legal Ltd team of Luke Hallinar, Rich Lloyd and Mark Roberts to victory in 24-under-par 116.      

Hendriksen’s Glamorgan Telecom team of Mark Balderson, Gareth Morgan and Lawrence McGill were second on 118 with Watson leading the McCanns team of Jeff Price, Neil Stephens and Gary  Mitchell into third on 123, beating the Burnham and Berrow team led by club pro David Haines on countback.