Parker pounces at Teign Valley

Veteran Iain Parker, the Royal North Devon professional, shook the younger members of the Devon PGA by winning the opening medal of the season in style at Teign Valley, home of this year’s captain Darren Everett.

The shrewd Scot, who has been looking after the fortunes of teenage sensation Jimmy Mullen, who made the cut at The Open this year, has seldom played recently. But he showed no signs of lack of practice as he shot five-under-par 65.

His game plan was to make as many pars as possible and he played steadily through the front nine. This included his shot of the day on the eighth where he choked down on a rescue club off a severe sloping lie, hit to 10 feet and two putted for birdie.

But his round really took off over the back nine as he recorded six birdies in his last seven holes including chipping on 17 to take an early lead in the CP and DC Construction Order of Merit.

James Pickard (Honiton) and Adam Frayne (Yelverton) shared second with 67s, one better than Torquay secretary-manager Dan Hendrikson, his elder brother Paul Hendrikson (Dinnaton) and Neil Holman (Torbay Driving Range). Despite a blustery and showery day, good scoring was possible on the quality greens.

Several new players joined the regulars and Peter Ward, the former Teignmouth head professional now in retirement, made a popular return to action.