09/02/2016
Kevin Harper made a rare outing to play a Devon PGA winter medal and was determined to make the day at Saunton his own even after realising he had forgotten his clubs.
The West Region PGA champion from East Devon was rescued by home professional Albert McKenzie, who provided him with a set.
And he showed his adaptability by winning the medal over the championship East course with a level-par round of 71 on a day of few birdies and high scoring. The course set a stiff challenge on a cold, murky day from the back tees with the pins tucked away.
Harper offset three bogeys with three birdies at the seventh, 11th and 15th with halves of 37 and 34.
But the player who produced a glittering array of shots was newcomer Connor Jenkins (Bovey Castle). He made a great start to the year by finishing second at Bigbury and could well have won at Saunton but for a horrendous finish.
He was three-under-par after 11 holes with birdies at the first, third and 11th. But his woes started with a bogey at the 14th and his chances evaporated when he took six at the tricky par three 17th. He had to settle for a share of fourth.
His only birdie of the round at the 18th gave Christian Vine (Woodbury Park) a share of second place on 73 with Rich Woods (Dainton Park) whose birdie at the seventh took him out in one-under-par. But four dropped over the notorious back nine proved expensive.
PGA champion Paul Hendriksen failed to make a birdie in his 75, a score matched by Jenkins, home assistant Nicky Maddison and Tom Hanson (Tiverton).
Vine, the county secretary, extended his Order of Merit lead over Woods and Hendriksen.