Cort continues rich vein of form

In-form Matt Cort continues to ride the crest of a wave after shooting a 69 at the PGA Play-Offs at Saunton Golf Club near Devon surfing hotspot Croyde Bay.

The Beedles Lake golfer, who last week secured his Challenge Tour card by wrapping up the PGA EuroPro Order of Merit in Spain, carded a two-under-par opening round to join fellow Midlander Paul Streeter and Ireland’s Colm Moriarty at the top of the leaderboard in the 72-hole event.

The trio lead by a shot from Irish duo Damien McGrane and Neil O’Briain with two-time Play-Offs winner Greig Hutcheon and Andrew Willey at level par.

Cort, who plans to embark on a winter fitness programme to keep up with the Tour’s big-hitters, was making his first appearance in 15 years at Saunton’s East Course.

Despite blustery and drizzling conditions – and the lack of a practice round – Cort was in good shape with two birdies on each nine offset by dropped shots on six and 14.

“I didn’t have a practice round although I walked it yesterday and it was a good job I did just to familiarise myself with the course because I haven’t played it for 15 years,” admitted Cort.

“It’s the kind of course where you can get in a bit of bother – get in a few bunkers which are hard to get out of - so anything around par is a good knock.”

A busy season in which Cort has also topped the PGA in England (Midlands) Order of Merit and made the cut at the British Masters, reflects the positive state of his game since deciding to do his PGA qualifications after previously playing full-time on Tour.

“My career has been funny, I got on Tour quickly, did okay, then fell off Tour, got caught in a limbo and lost my game,” he added.

“I then decided to take the PGA route and it has been one of the best things I’ve done. It’s given me a back-up, I can choose to earn money in different areas, while playing in these events has given me the drive to have another crack at it.”

Cort’s fellow Midlander – Streeter from the Lincoln Golf Centre – served up some brilliant golf in his round with seven birdies including three in the last four holes.

Streeter also birdied the 122-yard par-3 fifth which he aced the last time he played here in 1997 in the Brabazon Trophy.

“I said before starting I would take anything under par – one under par, I would take that every day and take my chances,” said Streeter.

“It’s a fantastic golf course but it doesn’t give you anything, you have to earn it, hit some good shots and hole the putts, and if you hit it off line there is some rubbish to be had.”

Moriarty, from Drive Golf Performance Ltd at Athlone's Glasson Hotel & Country Club, spearheads the Irish challenge and his round warmed up in the autumn chill with three birdies in four holes either side of the turn.

Two dropped shots pegged him back to level par before a sparkling run of two birdies in the last four lifted him to the top of the leaderboard.

“The first few holes were quite tricky and I had to hole a very good putt for a par on the fourth to remain one over,” he said.

“But from that point for the next eight holes I was hitting really, really good shots into every hole, inside 20ft each time and maybe I didn’t hole my fair share of putts.”

A string of Tour starts including at the BMW PGA Championship and British Masters is available for the leading finishers while top three will also qualify for the Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team.