Adam Woolley set a scorching pace on the first day of the Cornish Festival by posting an eight-under par round of 64 to establish a three-shot lead in the Carlsberg Marston’s-sponsored event.
An eight-under par return anywhere is a noteworthy achievement, that it came on the championship links at Trevose, even more so.
And that the pro from Lincoln Golf Club’s tour de force was six shots better than the other 26 who opened their three round Festival campaign at the Legends Tour venue tells its own story.
Jason Proctor of the Indoor Golf Academy and Dudsbury Golf Club’s Kieron Fowler were the next best on two-under as Woolley dominated proceedings.
So much so that a bogey at the par-four 12th proved a minor inconvenience in a round that included seven birdies and an eagle at the par-five fourth.
All of which has left former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker and Mark Sanders leading the chasing pack on five-under thanks rounds of 67 at the Point at Polzeath.
Baker, who played in the 1993 Ryder Cup at the Belfry and recorded three victories on the European Tour, has a liking for this event, having won it in 2017 and 2019.
He also finished tied-fifth in 2022 following the PGA South West region’s seasonal curtain-raiser’s resumption after a two-year enforced break due to Covid.
Indeed, aside from Woolley’s golfing pyrotechnics, it was a case of business as usual for him in the first round of the latest edition of the 54-hole event.
The pro from South Staffs Golf Club served early notice of his bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of successes at the Point at Polzeath with a bogey-free round.
By contrast, Sanders, who represents Knowle Golf Club, experienced a rollercoaster start with birdies at the third and fourth bookended by bogeys before avoiding any more mishaps.
Hot on their heels on four-under is another former European Tour player, Poulton Park Golf Club’s Philip Archer and Cennydd Mills, while defending champion, Clevedon Golf Club’s Ashley Mansell is a shot further back.
Archer, Mills and Mansell were both in action at the Point while St Enodoc Golf Club’s Joe Cruse and George Bloor are also on three-under following their rounds at Newquay Golf Club.
The shot of the day, meanwhile, came in the form of a hole-in-one from Tiverton Golf Club’s Christopher Wyatt.
He recorded the second ace of his career by negotiating the 139-yard 16th at Newquay with a nine-iron and, sandwiched by bogeys at 15, 17 and 18, it ensured he carded a round of three-over.
In addition, the achievement won him two prizes – a Motorcaddy M1 DHC trolley worth £749 and a Bushnell Pro X3 worth £549.
The former was donated by PGA South West region captain Mark Searle and the latter by PR and marketing specialists Yumax. They were on offer in a competition to raise funds for Searle’s captain’s charity – Smile Train and CLAPA, the Cleft Lip and Palate Association.
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