Jones double at Stinchcombe

Canford Magna’s Paul Jones won both the team prize and set a new course record in the Stinchcombe Hill Pro-Am.

He shot three-under-par 65 to share top prize with Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy, Newport). The course records were set as the club has lengthened the 10th and 18th holes since last year’s pro-am.

On a rare sunny day, Jones birdied the opening hole but dropped shots at the third and seventh. He returned in a four-under 31 picking up shots on the 10th, 13th, 14th and 16th.

Dinsdale’s round was faultless in the increasing afternoon wind. He did not drop a shot and made birdies at the sixth, eighth and 16th.

It was the second win of the season for both players. Jones won at St Pierre while Dinsdale was top in the season opener, the Exeter Ladies Pro-Am.

David Finch (Cleeve Hill), Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) were a further shot back on while PGA Cup player Nick Brennan (Bowood), Andrew Place (Staddon Heights), Joe Ferguson (Celtic Manor) and Sion Bebb (Vale Hotel) shared sixth on 67.

Three local footballers played alongside Jones in the Marstons-sponsored team. They were Cirencester Town football secretary and office manager Scott Griffin, Forest Green goalkeeper Matt Bullman, formerly of Cirencester, Swindon Town and Salisbury City, and Swindon Town juniors coach Sean Wood, who has played for Swindon Supermarine, Cirencester and Hungerford Town.

The winning quartet shot 16-under-par 120 to finish two clear of The Safety Knife Company side of Peter Marshall, John Hindshaw and Dave Starkey, led by another Parc Golf Academy professional  Brian Lee with local favourite Stuart Little (Minchinhampton New) heading the RBB team of Bill Thomas, Roger Grant and Bill Ray on 123 in third.