Ex Tour men share lead in Total Triumph Classic
22/05/2013
Former European Tour players Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) and Sion Bebb (Vale Hotel) shared the halfway lead at the 36-hole Total Triumph West PGA order of merit opener with rounds of four-under-par 66 at Oake Manor.
Left hander Little started with a birdie but gave it back at the second. But he was never in trouble again and added further birdies at four, nine, 15 and 17.
Welshman Bebb made an electric start and was four under at the turn after picking up shots at the first, third, sixth and ninth.
Successive bogeys followed at 11 and 12 before he finished with a flourish, making birdies at the final two holes.
Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) showed further signs of recovery after making a quiet start to the season.
He lies one shot behind after making four birdies and one bogey. Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) is also on 67 with birdies on the first, 12th and 13th. Although he dropped shots at 14 and 16 he caught back up with an eagle three on the 17th.
Defending champion Ross Jones (Bath) remains in contention two behind. He recovered from carding three bogeys in the first six holes with three birdies in the final four holes. James Keitch from nearby Taunton Vale produced his best OOM round as he rushed home in a four-under-par 31 back nine.
Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton), yet to improve on a series of runner-up spots in Race to Woodbury Park tournaments, is also on 68, despite three bogeys in the last six holes. Young Trevose assistant Grant Slater is on the same mark.
So is Martyn Thompson (Parkstone) who made the most birdies, his six including the last two holes, but shed four shots
previous winners Chris Gill (Newquay) and Barry Austin (Downes Crediton) were among several notable players who failed to survive the cut which came at three-over-par 73.
Others included West PGA chairman Jimmy Lee (Caerphilly), Andrew Sherborne (Kendleshire), Richard O'Hanlon (Polzeath), Paul Mayo, Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) and Paul Jones (Canford Magna).
