Success for Watson and Austin at Parkstone
17/07/2018
Michael Watson completed a topsy-turvy round to catch long-time leader Barry Austin and share the honours in the biennial Parkstone pro-am.
The Wessex Golf Centre professional was out in four-under-par 33 with five birdies and after another at the tenth he was in a strong position. But he dropped a shot on the 14th and followed with a triple bogey seven before completing his day with two further birdies to match Austin’s earlier three-under-par 69.
Austin, the Downes Crediton club professional and former Order of Merit champion, raced through the front nine with five birdies in the opening eight holes, four in succession from the third. But his return was less spectacular as he dropped three shots and collected his final birdie on the short 14th.
Ryan Pope (Exeter) made six birdies to finish in joint third alongside Paul Hendriksen ( Ivybridge), Adam Frayne (Yelverton) and veteran Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) who each made four birdies.
Giuseppe Licata (Chipping Sodbury), who was joint seventh with David Dixon (Enmore Park) as the only other players to better par, brought home the winning team of Ian Gay, Andrew Kelly and Gary Day with 91 points.
Home professional Martyn Thompson led John Warner, John Gordon and Jeff Bell into second on 88 with Henbury’s Luke Derrick in third one shot further back playing with Peter Strong, John Chilvers and Bob Cox.
The day was sponsored by Laceys Solicitors and funds were raised to support the Lewis-Manning Hospice at Lilliput.
