Home sweet home for Harper
18/08/2014
Kevin Harper made it a happy homecoming by recording his first outright win of the season at Honiton where he first learned to play.
In a pro-am sponsored by Ian Crook Wealth Management that marked Adrian Cave’s 25th anniversary as club professional, Harper, now representing Sidmouth after spells at East Devon and Exeter, made four birdies at the eighth, ninth, 14th and 15th for a four-under-par return of 64.
This brought a one-stroke advantage over Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew) and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) who both added three birdies to 15 pars in other flawless rounds.
Harper, aged 32, was an outstanding Devon amateur who won the Europro Tour Order of Merit in 2006 and played in The Open at Carnoustie the following year. He is playing more regularly in the West and shared top spot with O’Hanlon at Okehampton earlier this year. He has achieved ten top-ten finishes.
The consistent Paul Jones (Canford Magna) and Barry Austin (Downes Crediton) shared fourth on 67.
Championship winner David Dixon (Enmore Park), runner-up Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) and fourth placed James Ruth (China Fleet) were unable to reproduce their form from the previous day and finished down the field.
Christian Vine (Woodbury Park) led the R J Hill Haulage team of Paul Hill, Cliff Nightingale and Jackie Seagar to team success in 13-under-par 123. Austin, Simon Martin, Barry Dunn and Roy Bumstead were a shot behind with Harper’s Acanthus Press trio of Mark Tierney, Roger Trivett and Jim Hargreaves in third on 126.
