Debut win for Jessica
14/06/2016
Tiverton’s Jessica Bradley became the first female winner in the West since Wessex Golf Centre’s Fern Grimshaw claimed the Assistants’ Championship four years ago.
The 23-year-old full member of the Ladies European Tour was making her debut in a PGA in England and Wales event organised by her mentor club professional Alistair Welsher.
Former Devon county amateur champion Bradley, who set records during her college career in America, turned professional this year and made the cut in her first LET event in Morocco.
She made the best possible start with an eagle three on the opening hole.
A birdie at the sixth took her out in 33. Although she dropped her only shot on the 11th, a two at the 14th restored her round and she carded three-under-par 68.
Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge), like all the field, found birdies elusive. One at the first, two more at 14 and 15 and a bogey at the eighth, left him one shot adrift in second.
Eight players shared third on one-under 70. Among them PGA Cup captain Jon Bevan (Sherborne) made the most birdies, but his six were negated by five bogeys. Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) made five threes, four for birdies on a brilliant homeward stretch.
Bradley also finished second in the team section on 128 with the Alistair Welsher Golf team of Dan Webb, Andy Peat and Tracy Banbury.
The winners on 126 were St Kew Golf Club led by Richard O'Hanlon with Tom Crocker, John Alton and Steve Churchill.
Dan Toogood and his Weston-super-Mare Golf Club trio of Pete Allen, Darren Henderson and Kerry Kimitri were third on 129, beating John Bickerton’s Minehead Eagles trio on countback in the day.
The club’s first pro-am, sponsored by Tolchards, on a well-prepared course in superb condition showing off the hard work of new head greenkeeper George Stephens, was played in light morning on a warm, windless day.
