A trio whose combined ages exceed more than 150 years set the pace in the PGA South West region’s final domestic event of the season – the North Devon Links Festival.
Martin Stimson and Michael Watson, who are both Seniors, and Simon Lilly, the youngest of the trio at 46, posted six-under par rounds of 66 at Royal North Devon Golf Club to finish the Festival’s first of three legs a shot clear of the field.
Lilly, who represents Wellingborough Golf Club, served early notice he intended to make the long trip from Northamptonshire to Bideford worthwhile by opening with an eagle at the par-five first.
He undid some of the good work with a bogey at the par-four second, however, but there were no further blips as he recorded five birdies in the remaining 16 holes.
By contrast, Watson, who represents Wessex Golf Centre, was bogey-free, as was Glyn Abbey Golf Club’s Stimson who signed off with four birdies in the final six holes to ensure a share of the lead going into round two.
That will be staged on Saunton Golf Club’s West course before the final round is contested on the club’s East course and the destiny of the £10,000 prize fund determined.
In which case, Jessica Smart, a pro at Saunton and winner of the Women’s PGA Professional Championship for the past two seasons, will be looking to make local knowledge count after negotiating Royal North Devon in two-under par.
Similarly, Matt Cort also likes Saunton’s East course having won the English PGA Championship there in 2018. He lies tied-sixth with Paul Nessling on four-under, two shots off the lead and one adrift of Chris Gill and Ross Langdon.
Meanwhile, Watson and his trio of amateurs lead the Stableford format team event with 97 points, two clear of the field.
