Dixon romps home at Saunton Classic

David Dixon not only romped to a five-shot victory in the Saunton Classic, the opening order of merit event of the year, he made it a double celebration by also taking the team award with amateur partner James Symons.

“Just the start to the season I needed,” said the 37-year-old Enmore Park player who is targeting a return to the European Tour as his goal for the season. “I’ve been on and off the Tour since 2001 and I am determined to return.”

His five-shot first round lead after a nine-under return of 62 over the West course – “it could have been really special as I had 17 putts for birdies” – was never threatened even though he dropped a shot on the opening hole on the East course in the second round.

Birdies at two, six and eight stretched his lead and he came home comfortably in level par with further birdies at the 10th and 15th and two bogeys at the tenth and 16th.

After a round of 69 for a total of 131 he was five clear of Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) who put a string of disappointing OOM returns behind him with a closing best-of-the-day 67 including six birdies.

“The weather was calm and the only chance of David being caught was if it was blowing a gale,” he said.

“But it’s been a good result for me so early in the season and I prefer to look ahead rather than dwell on why I haven’t done so well in big events for a few months.”

The highlights of Dixon’s up-and-down career were winning the Silver Medal as the low amateur in the Open at Royal Lytham in 2001 and the St Omer Open on the European Tour in 2008 and he yearns for the big stage again.

After winning a mini-tour event in Portugal and losing a play-off in another he feels this could be his season.

He plans to compete in the five remaining OOM tournaments and has already scheduled 18 pro-ams in his diary.

“I want to win as often as I can for each one increases your confidence. It’s been great to get that feeling of winning again. I have practiced hard and I want to make my game as sharp as it was a few years ago for I still feel I have several more years at the top.”

Left-hander Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) claimed third on 137 after carding 70 to finish one ahead of Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) who also shot a second day 70.

Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) returned the day’s only bogey-free card a three-under-par 68 – a score matched by Cheltenham’s Russ Berry – to share fifth alongside Neil Holman (Torbay Golf Centre) and Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy).

James Ruth (China Fleet) made the first hole-in-one of the season – the eighth of his career - at the 113-yard fifth hole using a 52-degree wedge.

Symons, Dixon’s regular partner in pro-ams, who plays off seven at Taunton and Pickeridge, improved the team score by six shots. They carded 89 points, two more than Upavon pair Dan Carter and two-handicapper Matt Redgrave. They pipped St Mellons pair Toby Hunt, whose tenth place was a career-best finish, and his father Chris, on countback.