Dixon drives to the top at Farrington

Big hitting David Dixon astonished players and members of Farrington Park with a prodigious display of driving to win the club’s annual pro-am with a round of three-under-par 69 in the sunshine.

He won the award for the longest drive at the par-five ninth hole by sending the ball 402 yards off the tee. And he launched another missile at the 433-yard 18^th when the ball finished just short of the green in the light rough.

“They were good hits but I did have the wind behind me,” he said. “I am playing well at the moment and I left a lot of putts out there. Some of the pin positions were tricky although the greens were in great condition.

“The course is playing really nicely and I always look forward to coming to Farrington. Good shots are always rewarded.”

Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) who travelled from Cornwall was runner-up one shot behind. “I missed a four-foot putt for birdie on the last,” he said.

Craig Adams, the former Farrington club champion who now plays as a professional on the Europro Tour, his brother Mark (off four), fellow Farrington member Nick Russell (16) and Steve Seymour (Burnham and Berrow, nine) shot 16-under-par 128 to win the team prize.

Murdoch McEwan (Wells), who has just rejoined the PGA after spending ten years in Texas, led the second team while Welshman James Maxwell (Teign Valley) returned to a course where he has won in the past to head the third-placed team.

Head professional and organiser Jonathan Lawrence, who was helped by main sponsor Darren Wilkins Electrical, said: “The course is probably the best I have ever seen it and this added to everyone’s enjoyment on another super day at the club.”

James Hannam (Bath) and Maxwell shot 71, Chris Coles (Saltford), returned 72, McEwan 73, despite taking nine on the 13^th, Robin Goodey (Chipping Sodsbury) 74. Daryl Kelley (Filton), Jon Cowgill (Farrington), Tom Maggs (Mendip Spring) and Michael Watson (Wessex Weymouth) shot 76.