Dixon on fire at Torquay

Former European Tour winner David Dixon won his first PGA in England & Wales (South West) pro-am since pledging his support to the region yet the start to his round at Torquay hardly revealed the class that was to come.

Dixon, now based again at his original club Enmore Park, made a birdie at the first but dropped shots at the fourth and sixth. He followed with a birdie at the seventh and added six more on the back nine. He just settled for pars on the 12th, 15th and 17th in signing for a six-under-par 63.

The one-time winner of the St Omer Open, finished sixth in the Players Championship the previous day at Cumberwell Park and plans to play regularly for the rest of the season.

Long-time leader Michael Watson, whose form has returned dramatically after a quiet opening to the season, was three-under after six and added three more although he shed shots at the seventh and 18th. He ended two shots adrift.

Chris Gill, the new Newquay club pro was excited by his first sub-par round for a while. Three-under 66 brought a share of third with Kevin Harper (Sidmouth) while Christian Vine (Woodbury Park) and  Ashley Moon (Okehampton) shared fifth on 68.

Vine added to his winnings by heading the leading team on 124, two better than the trio led by Duncan Arnold (Torbay Golf Centre) with Harper’s group pipping Adrian Cave (Honiton) on countback.