Harper and Hanson take Christmas Pairs

Former Europro champion Kevin Harper (East Devon) and young Tiverton assistant Tom Hanson won the Devon PGA Christmas pairs with a remarkable round of eight-under-par 61 at Dawlish Warren.

Afterwards Harper generously heaped praise on the young assistant for his part on the success. After sharing the £300 winners’ cheque he said: “Tom was the senior partner and made a vital contribution.”

The format was nine holes better ball and nine holes Texas scramble with a two tee start.  New improvements  to the well-presented course contributed to the low scoring.

The winners made an amazing start from the 11^th tee in the scramble. They went eagle, eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie, par, par, birdie and added a fifth birdie at their ninth hole, the tenth, for an incredible back nine of nine-under 27.

But it did not last and, like many of the other players, they found the opening holes more difficult in the better ball and they returned in one-over par without another birdie s and dropped a shot on the par three third..

Dawlish manager/professional Duncan Arnold and Richard Wood (Dainton Park) came second on seven-under 62.  They made one eagle and five birdies.

Three pairs shared the final prize money with returns of 63.  Mark Hurst (Teign Valley) and Ben Martin (Exeter) shot one eagle and four birdies, Woodbury Park’s Christian Vine and Tom Jessamine made an eagle and five birdies, shedding a shot at the par five 12^th.  Jon Axford (Teignmouth) and Ben Hiscock (Torquay) shared seven birdies but a dropped shot at the 17^th proved expensive.

The day started with the county annual meeting where Alistair Welsher from Tiverton became the new captain in succession to Jason Fullard (Torquay).