Local players to the fore
14/08/2017
It was an extra special day for Parkstone’s long-serving player James Baldwin who celebrated his first West win in the high-profile Salisbury and South Wilts pro-am where Dorset and Wiltshire players dominated in a six-way tie at the top.
Former Dorset champion Baldwin shot three-under-par 68 on a dry, cloudy day. He started well with a birdie at the third and an eagle at the seventh. But he slipped back with three bogeys until birdies at 10, 14 and 15 proved decisive.
He has been at Parkstone for 16 years and has recently taken over as secretary of the Bournemouth Professional Golfers’ Alliance.
Dan Carter (Upavon) was the early leader although his prospects looked grim as he was one-over-par after the 15th. But an eagle, birdie, birdie finish rescued his day.
Paul Jones (Ashley Wood) was the sixth man to make the podium with an identical four-under-par finish. It was his first win since the Ferndown invitational last year.
Jon Bevan (Sherborne) produced five birdies and two dropped shots, Kevin Harper (East Devon) made six birdies while David Dixon (Enmore Park), in one of his infrequent appearances this season, was drifting along until three successive birdies from the 14th restored his round.
Richard Dinsdale (Asbri Golf) and George Ryall (Burnham & Berrow) shared seventh one shot back.
Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) led the winning SJK Furness Builders team of Ryan Furness, Ernie Spence and Jordan Hibbs, into first place in the team section on 15-under-par 127.
Harper’s trio of Stephen Castle, Frankie Higginson and Geoff Johnson followed on 129, two better than young Welsh pro Matthew Phythian (Valleys Golf Enterprise) playing with Rob Agnew, Peter Toole and John Bowland.
The 42-team day was organised successfully by past chairman Roger Priddle and club secretary Andy Beal, the former European Tour player.
