Price’s late late show

Ryder Cup player Phillip Price was both a late entrant and late starter but he was certainly a strong finisher in the annual Oake Manor pro-am.

The final man on the course made a decisive eagle at the 476-yard par five 15th hole to card five-under-par 65 and join Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton), Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) and Kevin Harper (Sidmouth) at the top.

A birdie at the first followed by a six on the par five second and three further birdies helped him register his first regional win since he became a European Tour regular. This season he has finished second and fourth three times in ten appearances.

His next date is at Celtic Manor in this week’s ISPS Handa Wales Open.

Hendriksen posted the early score, also boosted by an eagle three at the 15th and three birdies, dropping his only shot at the par three 16th. He was followed by Watson and Harper who both Harper has returned to his best form after coming close to his first Europro Tour win of the season at Prince’s where he was joint third.

It was leading money winner Watson’s eleventh top place this season although his first for just over a month after a quieter-than-customary period.

David Dixon (Enmore Park) had a great chance to upstage the rest of the field but marred a great start when he took seven on the 15th. But, typically, he ended his round in style with three successive birdies.

On a day where 19 players equalled or bettered par this was enough to share fifth with Ross Langdon (South Cerney).

Watson’s Weymouth trio of Rob Price, Tony Smith and John Sharp won the team section on 21-under-par 119, two better than Dixon’s Somerset group of Steve Lowe, James Symons and Mark Popham followed by Adam Frayne (St Mellion) and his Devon team of Barry Nicholson and Roger and Tim Shobrook on 124.