Coupland turns back the clock to set the pace in Cornish Festival

Dave Coupland goes into the final round of the Cornish Festival occupying pole position after unleashing a barrage of birdies redolent of the form that earned him a joint third-place finish in the 2021 British Masters.

Coupland claimed his European Tour Card via Q School in 2020 but his opportunities to shine at golf’s elite level was blighted by Covid.

Now at the age of 38 and attached to Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, he has opted to supplement his golfing skills by studying to become a PGA Professional. However, those skills were very much in evidence on the day two of the popular Carlsberg Marstons-sponsored tournament.

Memories of a triple and double bogey at St Enodoc Golf Club and a three-over par round of 72 on day one were banished 24 hours later by his negotiation of the final 13 holes at Trevose.

Eight birdies followed as his score went from a sickly-looking five-over to a healthy three-under. All of which has left him two shots clear of local favourite Joe Cruse going into the tournament’s final day.

The pair, who are the only members of the 120-strong field of PGA pros and trainees to break par, will play their third round at Newquay Golf Club, as will another former DP World Tour player Philip Archer who is on level par.

Whether the course that overlooks the surfing hotspot of Fistral Beach provides a memorable stage for a member of that trio or, indeed, Adam Curtis who is on one-over, remains to be seen.

For Jeremy Markall, however, it will never be forgotten. Markall, who is a member of Caerphilly Golf Club, plays off 15 and is one of the 360 amateurs playing alongside the pros in the tournament, had a hole-in-one at the par-three 14^th hole.

Wielding a six-iron, he unerringly found the target some 182 yards away to record his first ever ace. In doing so, he won a PowaKaddy electric golf trolley and Bushnell range finder which were prizes in PGA South West captain Chris Gill’s fundraising competition for Children’s Hospice South West.

Meanwhile, in the team competition involving the 120 teams comprising a pro and three amateurs, Barry Austin’s quartet has amassed 168 Stableford points and is one clear of John Bickerton’s foursome.

Follow this link for a full list of scores

https://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi24/event/pgagbi24210/contest/7/leaderboard.htm