Berry good for Russ at Cumberwell

Russ Berry won the birdie fest at sultry Cumberwell Park in the 45-team pro-am before this week’s Players Championship with a dazzling, flawless seven-under-par 64.

The Cheltenham-based player who represents the RB Driving Range at Coleford started with a birdie and made another at the eighth. His big boost came in a five-under back nine with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 18th and an eagle at the 11th.

But on a day where birdies were the norm he was strongly challenged by course specialist Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre Hotel), who won the main event last year, and Ross Jones from Bath.  Jones made birdies at the first and seventh and followed with an eagle at the ninth.

After three birdies in succession from the 10th his run ended with bogeys at the par three 13th and 16th holes before he picked up his final shot on the 17th.

Bond birdied the first but made a double at the second. After that he recovered and produced an exhilarating run with five successive birdies from the ninth and added two more that the 16th and 17th.

Brian Lee (Parc Golf Academy) made eight birdies and Paul Jones (Canford Magna) six in their five-under rounds of 66 to share fourth.

Minchinhampton’s Stuart Little led the Marstons team of Bob McLean, Gordon Norris and Stuart Dixon into first position in the team award on 21-under-par.

Lee Wood (Cotswold Hills) headed Moles Brewery trio Roger Catte, Sam Catte and Greg Hood into second, one shot behind, with Ross Jones and his trio of Nick Walker, Marusia Collins and Ian McComas beating Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) and his Total Triumph team of Neil Mossman, Clive Thorn and Lee Ayres from Oake Manor into third on countback.