Greenkeepers partner winner O’Hanlon

Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew) was given the best possible chance of success in the re-scheduled Vivary Park pro-am as he played with head greenkeeper Mark Newman and his colleagues Josh Martin and Alan Stone.

There’s not much they don’t know about the tricky tree-lined Taunton municipal course and it was clearly a help to the Cornwall-based Midlander who claimed his second West success of the season.

He shot four-under-par 61 with skilful iron play that brought four birdies in the first five holes to lay the foundation of an impressive round. Two further birdies and two dropped shots completed his day.

And he helped the greenkeeping team finish second in their section, just as they did last year.

He earned a two-shot win over the West’s leading money-winner James Ruth (China Fleet) whose opening nine of 28 was based on birdies at the second, fifth, seventh and eighth. But he faltered on the way home and made one more birdie at the 13^th and dropped three shots.

Welshman Phillip Price, fresh from his success at West Wilts, managed to shoot one-under 64 on his first visit to the course and take third place ahead of another former European Tour star Scott Drummond and O’Hanlon’s assistant Max Billingsley on 65.

Another ex-Tour player John Bickerton (Minehead & West Somerset) headed Cullen’s Catering featuring Will Parkman, Stuart Milton and Mark Peters to success in the team section on 19-under-par 111. Ruth’s M R Cleaning team of Mark McKenna, Steve Burt and Paul Hearne were third on 115.