Mansell leads birdie fest at Dudsbury
30/06/2017
Ashley Mansell’s pre-season pledge that this could be his year has been justified week by week this summer. Now he leads an Order of Merit tournament for the first time.
The 26-year-old Clevedon assistant is one stroke ahead after the opening round of the Dudsbury Masters at Dorset course Dudsbury in an event once again sponsored by Ringwood Brewery.
He lost in a three-way play-off in the Total Triumph Classic at Oake Manor, the opening OOM event. He shot six-under-par 65 at Dudsbury on a day where the superbly-presented rain-softened course yielded dozens of birdies and the occasional eagle.
Mansell was four under after six holes and three further birdies on the back nine brought him home in three-under 33.
Long-time leader Richard Woods (Dainton Park) came home in 32 with three birdies and an eagle three on the 17th.
He was later joined on five-under 66 by PGA Cup captain Jon Bevan (Sherborne) who is showing great form this season. He was three-under after ten and finished with three further birdies from the 15th.
Adam Frayne (Yelverton), the current West Region champion, produced the day’s only faultless round with five birdies as the third player to share second.
Former Europro Tour champion Kevin Harper (East Devon) would have joined them but for a dropped shot at the last.
Richard Dinsdale (Asbri Golf) reached five-under after 13 holes before dropping two late shots. Max Billingsley (St Kew) with six birdies and ex-PGA champion Scott Drummond with seven added to the log-jam in fourth spot.
Toby Hunt (St Mellons), Alex Todd (Farrington Park) and Chris Gill (Newquay) share ninth on three- under.
There was still much to play for today as 31 players started the final round below par. They include Lydia Hall (Hensol Golf Academy), Richard O’Hanlon and Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) who are four behind the leader while Total Triumph winner Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) is one under and pro-am winner Matt Dearden (Vale Resort) is on level par.
Home player Mark Wiggett is the best placed local on 68 with home assistant Matt Williams and Paul Jones (Ashley Wood) one shot further back.
