Vine flourishes at Stover

Christian Vine won his first regional pro-am for almost two years after a brilliant start saw him register five birdies over the first ten holes at Stover.

The Woodbury Park teaching professional, aged 35, has been playing regularly this season after returning permanently last year from Austria where he spent six months each summer teaching at Koessen Kaiserwinkl, 20 kilometres from Kitzbuehl. It was his 17th top ten finish of the season.

Vine, whose most recent win was in the Exeter Ladies Pro-Am last season, was out in 30 but made three birdies and dropped three shots in an inward nine of level-par 35. But a four-under return of 65 was enough to beat former European Tour winner David Dixon (Enmore Park) and the in-form James Pickard (Honiton) by one shot.

Pickard made six birdies and added three bogeys while Dixon carded four birdies with his only dropped shot coming at the 11th.

Jason Fullard, who has moved from Stover to Torquay, was fourth on 67.

He parred every hole on the front nine and his third birdie three on the back nine at the 18th proved decisive as it left four others one shot behind in a tie for fifth.

Dixon led the Total Triumph team from Oake Manor of Neil Mossman, Jon Ball and James Symons into the first team place on 86 points. Chris Gill (Newquay) and Dan Greenbury, Chris Greenbury and former West tournament controller Andy Parker were one point behind in second with Grant Slater (Trevose), Dan Hall, Del Ellis and Andy Webb third on 82.

John Mitchell, the Stover club captain, presented the prizes at an event organised by the club’s assistant professional Ross Troake.