Hat-trick of OOM wins for Bond

Liam Bond (pictured above left with John Jacobs) won his third successive South West order of merit tournament and then issued a chilling message to his fellow players.

“I am playing better now than when I was on the European Tour,” said the Marriott St Pierre touring player who is dominating the Race to Woodbury Park Order of Merit this summer.

His latest success was a two-shot triumph in the Players Championship at Cumberwell Park, the fourth of seven OOM events, sponsored by Lansdown Mazda.

He also won the Total Triumph at Oake Manor and the Microsoft Services Masters at Bowood. Despite missing the Bournemouth Festival while on another winning streak in Greece, he still moves to the top of the order of merit.

He is committing himself to the region for the rest of the season. “I set my goals when I decided not to take a coaching position in Russia.

"I still nurse hopes of playing at the highest level again and if I maintain this form I will go to Tour School.

“And I would like to qualify for the Titleist PGA Play-Offs at the end of the season to get further opportunities of playing in Europe once more.”

Although he trailed playing partner Paul Jones (Canford Magna), the overnight leader on six-under-par, by only one shot overnight, Bond’s challenge looked unsustainable.

When he double-bogeyed the eighth after he drove into a hazard after his foot slipped, he slipped back to three-over-par for the day. He was then five behind.

“I had to press to stand any chance,” he said. But his future began to look brighter from the par five ninth. A birdie when he sunk a 40-foot putt started an incredible run.

He made back-to-back eagles on the tenth, when he hit a 3-wood to within six feet, and then made three on the par five 11.

He came close to a third eagle at the 12th where he made a three the previous day, settling for a birdie. Two more at 13 and 14 completed a run of seven-under-par over a five-hole stretch.

Jones, who was playing more conventionally in a quest for his first OOM title in 20 years as a professional, and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury), the third player in the final group who did everything but putt well, could only look on in admiration.

“I hit all 18 greens in regulation but made four three putts on the back nine,” said Jones.

“But when your partner picks up seven shots in five holes it makes it pretty tough.”
By then Bond had raced two shots ahead of Jones and three in front of Thompson.

But the real threat came elsewhere from Welshmen Cennydd Mills and Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy).

They posted seven-under-par scores after a day’s best 65 from former PGA Cup player Dinsdale and 66 from Mills who was competing in only his third event of the season because of work commitments at Pyle and Kenfig. Both players finished with three birdies.

Former European Tour winner David Dixon (Enmore Park) was another challenger and finished on six-under to take sixth spot after picking up four birdies in the last eight holes.

Ali James, manager of Cumberwell Park and the first winner of the event three years ago as an amateur, said: “We are always trying to put the club further on the golf map and the tournament and pro-am was an outstanding success.”

Director of golf John Jacobs said: “This was our best event. We had great feedback from the pro-am, it has been a real team effort and we are seeing the rewards as Cumberwell keeps growing.”