Eagle and birdie fest at Woodbury Park

The Race to Woodbury Park tournament pro-am produced the most remarkable scoring ever seen in a South West event at the regional headquarters.

Only nine of the 40 players failed to break or equal the par of 73 which was increased from the tournament as the first was played as a par five. The pins were set generously by the benevolent tour controller Tom Sheffield.

Only a score of six-under-par or better was good enough for a top 10 finish. There was no financial reward for a three-under-par return.

It took two rounds of nine-under-par 64 by player of the season Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre) and former European Tour winner David Dixon (Enmore Park) to fend off a four-man challenge of players just one shot behind.

Michael Watson (Wessex), Richard Dinsdale (Parc), Gary Emerson (Playgolf Bournemouth) and Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) must have felt they stood a great chance until the winners emerged.

Eagles and birdies abounded.  Bond made two eagles and five birdies, Dixon signed for five birdies over the front nine and four on the return. Watson made eight birdies, Little an eagle and six birdies and while five of Emerson’s birdies came on the back nine.

Dinsdale was the only player in the leading group to drop a shot, taking five at the fourth, and added two eagles and five birdies.

Several players made two eagles while James Pickard (Honiton) did not drop a shot in a five-under 68 yet shared 11th.

Honiton’s Kevin Harper led the St Austell Brewery trio of Joel Hawes, Dean Johnson and Luke Crocker to team success with 97 points.

Dinsdale’s Still Materials group Bill Foote, Roger Paull and Reece Wilson were second on 95, beating the MJ Stevens team of Mike Stevens, Ben Stevens and Malcolm Hooper led by Russell Berry (RB Range) on countback.

The prizes were presented by Sue Hawkins, proprietors at Woodbury Park, and Andy Evans, the regional sales manager for Diageo and Johnnie Walker.