First win for Mowett at Mullion

Saunton assistant Kristian Mowett won his first West pro-am by sharing top spot with Tavistock’s Anthony Buchanan in the first Mullion pro-am for 16 years over the most southernly course in Britain, sponsored by Hawkins Motors.

The pair returned one-under-par 69 worth £675 each. It was Buchanan’s first win since he returned from the Middle East while Mowett earned a cheque for the first time this season in his fifth event.

He was the early leader after an eagle at the fourth followed by birdies at the ninth and 12^th. He would have won outright but Buchanan made a birdie three at the final hole after making three successive birdies from the second and an eagle at the ninth.

Last man out Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) continued his most successful season by claiming third place on level par. His highlight was an eagle at the ninth as he made only two birdies and dropped four shots on a difficult day for scoring in the strong wind accompanied by squally showers.

Jon Bevan (Sherborne) and Richard Sadler (Hayle Golf Range) carded four birdies each but suffered with a succession of dropped shots on their way to 71, one better than Carlyon Bay pair, club pro Mark Rowe who seldom plays now, and Grant Slater.

A number of players had never sampled the spectacular cliff-top links course with dramatic views and even the most experienced made more bogeys than birdies. Some even failed to make a birdie.

First man out Bevan led the winning team of Mark Twynham, Richard Fox and Gordon Tamblyn, the  club’s six-handicap head greenkeeper who has been at the club for 30 years. They shot 13-under-par 85.

Scott Richards (Truro) and his team of Ryun Retallack, Paul Hull and George Torrance lost on countback. Sadler’s trio of Nick Avery, Justin Watters and Mark Main was third one shot back.