Magical Mark shatters Cumberwell record

Record breaking Mark Searle takes a three-shot lead into the second round of the Cumberwell Park Players Championship today after a sensational ten-under-par opening 61.

The 35-year-old High Post player drew gasps of astonishment from fellow players as he sunk almost every putt and never looked in danger of dropping a shot.

“Just one of those days,” he said. “It was almost surreal as all the putts fell in one after another. I only missed two greens and made 24 putts. Conditions were perfect with only a gentle breeze. Rain at the weekend softened the greens which were as good as I have ever seen them and I have played the course a lot over the years.

“I have many fond memories of Cumberwell and if I can hang on to my lead this will be another.  I shall just go out and play the golf course although another 61 is improbable.”

His best Order of Merit finish is sixth. He was five-under-par on each nine ad twice made three birdies in a row.  The round contained eight threes and two twos.

Cumberwell is often used by Wiltshire county and Searle won two county championships there before he went to Tennessee University and returned to play professionally with modest success. It was his career-low round.

He overtook fellow Wiltshireman Dan Carter (Upavon) who held an early lead on five-under. Then casual player Paul Turpin (Carlyon Bay) raced to 64, including a run of five successive birdies from the eighth, to close the gap at the top. He made five birdies on the opening nine but dropped his only shot on the last.

The three form the leading group today while experienced players and favourites languish well down the field.

The leading three players in the OOM, Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle), Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre, winner of the pro-am, and Chris Gill (Newquay), faltered with returns of 71, 73 and 77 respectively. Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) carded 73.

This was a major surprise on a day when 35 players matched par or better.

Ashley Mansell (Clevedon), Barry Austin (Tiverton), Dan Toogood (Weston-super-Mare), Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) and Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) share fourth on four-under 67.