Three wins in four starts for Bickerton

Former European Tour winner John Bickerton won for the third time in only four starts this season with another breathtaking round on his first visit to Tehidy Park, near Camborne.

The 48-year-old Minehead & West Somerset professional made nine birdies and dropped just two shots in two halves of three and four under par 32 in a round of 64 for a two-shot success.

He made four successive birdies from the eighth hole and once more his short game was impeccable.

This follows a Total Triumph win on his debut in the first order-of-merit tournament at Oake Manor and another when he shared with Matt Turner (Oake Manor) at Tiverton.

He devotes almost all his time to his role at Minehead but has clearly lost none of the guile he displayed in winning three European tournaments before injury forced his premature retirement.

Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) followed his win at Torquay in the previous pro-am with 66, a return with five birdies and no dropped shots which would have been enough for first place on most days.

The busy Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew) returned to Cornwall to take third on 67 with another blemish-free return featuring four birdies.

Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) produced another polished display to take fifth on 68, one better than Jon Bevan (Sherborne) and Kevin Harper (East Devon).

Bickerton made it a double by leading Winners Recruitment 1, the main sponsors of another successful day, to take the team event on 17-under-par 88. The team of Cornwall amateur stars Paul Clahane, Richard Simmons and club secretary/manager Ian Veale won on countback from the Datson Consulting team of Chris Gill (Newquay), Nick Datson, Lee Holmes and another county man Charlie Phillips.

Home professional Jonathan Lamb with James Barnard, Chris Hoyle and Rachael Lloyd-Phillips were third on 86.