Bebb takes the pot at Sherborne
13/05/2013
Sion Bebb collected this year’s largest South West pro-am prize of more than £1,000 with a scintillating seven-under-par return of 65 at the compact Sherborne course in the heart of the Dorset countryside, an event sponsored by the Manchester-based Morson Group.
The 44-year-old former European and Challenge Tour player, who collected more than €500,000 during his European adventures, has abandoned world-wide travelling to return full-time to the PGA regional circuit.
He showed his class on his first visit to the course for 17 years with an almost blemish-free round that included only threes and fours. He made eight birdies and dropped his only shot at the 188-yard seventh. He was out in four-under 32 and back in 33.
But Paul Jones (Canford Magna) was a strong challenger. He bogeyed the fifth but went on to become the day’s birdie king with nine that included an incredible run of six in succession from the sixth. But then his chances of winning waned after a double bogey at the par four 12th.
Jones finished one shot behind on a breezy day followed by late rain for the final hour on a course where the receptive greens were perfect for putting as birdies were posted almost everywhere. Although many balls finished close to the 162-yard flag at the 15th, no-one won the £10,000 Saab car offered for a hole in one.
Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton) was another player to flourish and finished with five successive birdies, to make seven in all. Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) also made seven birdies and the pair shared third on 68.
They were followed a shot behind by Barry Forster (North Wilts) and Liam Clarke (Windwhistle), who seldom plays. Clarke increased his winnings by leading his club team of Paul Manley, Ian Haslem and Will Bennett into third place in the team section on 86.
They lost out on countback to Fears Farmers, John Fear, Nigel Blackmore and Chris Eitzen, led by Liam Bond (St Pierre). Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy) led the Still team of Bill Foot, Rob Lamb and Roger Paul into first place on 87.
