First win for newcomer Turner

First year Oake Manor trainee Matt Turner won his first professional event by sharing top spot with veteran John Bickerton (Minehead and West Somerset) in the Tiverton pro-am.

The pair returned rounds of four-under-par 67 to beat former home club assistant Tom Hanson, now representing  Ping Europe Ltd., by one shot.

Left-hander Turner, 29, was first to post his score which was boosted by an eagle three at the first followed by a birdie. Two bogeys and three further birdies on par fours brought the early clubhouse lead.

After a successful amateur career with Somerset  he first showed his potential  as a pro by leading the Order of Merit Players Championship after the opening round  at Cumberwell Park ten days earlier.

Three-time European Tour winner Bickerton, winner of the opening Order of Merit tournament the Total Triumph Classic, started with three successive birdies and was out in 33. Three further birdies and two dropped shots completed his round on the day sponsored by Tolchards Drinks.

Hanson made an inauspicious start from the tenth hole. He bogeyed the 12^th, dropped two shots on the next and was out in two-over 37. But he made a sensational start to his second nine.  He picked up six shots in the first five holes with two birdies, then made a hole in one on the fourth followed by a second eagle at the par four fifth. 

Experienced David Dixon (Enmore Park) and George Ryall (Worlebury) shared fourth on 69. Devon trio Kevin Harper (East Devon), Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) and Tom Jessamine (Exeter) were the only other players to break oar on 70.

Jessamine’s round included six birdies and an eagle at the third which helped his team of  Peter Barnes, Callum Barnes  and  Vince Reddick take first team prize on 16-under 126.

Welshman  James Maxwell , now representing  The Bunker Indoor Golf at Newton Abbot, was second on  countback with Paul Naden, Jack Moxey and Aaron Lee.  Bickerton’s trio of Simon Young, Neil Megarry and Colin Taylor were third one shot behind.