Bebb celebrates 50th birthday with victory

Sion Bebb celebrated his 50^th birthday by winning the North Devon Links tournament and £1,500.

“Things couldn’t have gone better,” the Morlais Castle club professional said after a level par final round over the challenging East course at Saunton which was enough to secure a two-shot win. I said it wouldn’t be easy because the East course is such a tough track but I just managed it.”

After leading by four shots going into the final day he held off David Dixon (Enmore Park).  The former European Tour winner made 13 pars until three successive birdies took him to three-under-par 68 to close the gap dramatically at the top.

Order of Merit winner Bebb dropped his first shot on the opening hole but rallied immediately with two successive birdies. His third birdie at the 16th brought breathing space before he failed to make par at the short 17th.

Bebb has enjoyed a successful end of season and is in fine form before a visit to the Play-Offs in Turkey.

Two other players matched Dixon’s best-of-the-day round to surge up the leaderboard. Matt Cort (Beedles Lake) won the PGA Play-Offs at Saunton two years ago and won the Links last year.

This year he added the Asbri Cornish Festival title to his CV in April, and shrugged off an elbow injury which severely restricted his play on the opening day to claim fifth, helped by two eagles.

Mike Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) matched the score with five birdies and shared third with Chippenham’s Louis Boston who enjoyed his best week as a professional by winning a total of £1,200, thanks to leading the winning West Country team on 260.

He was partnered by English amateur international Jake Burnage, a plus-four player from Saunton, St Enodoc member Martin Trees, off six, and Andrew Jones (The Mendip), off eight.

Boston said: “I had never met Jake or Martin but we fitted together very well to enjoy a really good week. Jake was under par on his own ball in all three rounds.”

Cort with amateurs Brendon Delaney, Jamie Simpson and Dean Briggs were two shots behind with PGA Cup winning captain Albert MacKenzie from Saunton third alongside Jon Sutherland, Geoff Briggs and Stuart Charnock on 254.

Next year’s event will be played from September 30 to October 2.