Hunt puts local knowledge to good use in PGA South Wales Open

The opening round of the PGA South Wales Open at St Mellons Golf Club proved a case of home sweet home for Toby Hunt.

Hunt is the head PGA Professional at the venue, and he put local knowledge to good use by posting a four-under par round of 66 to lead the tournament at its halfway stage.

The event is the fourth of five events that will determine the winner of the Carlsberg Marstons-sponsored PGA South West’s Order of Merit and Hunt teed off buoyed by winning the third in the series.

Maintaining the form that resulted in him winning the PGA West Region Championship at Woodbury Park in Devon, the 30-year-old Welshman made a blistering start.

Serving notice of his intentions, he recorded four birdies in the first eight holes before a bogey at the par-four ninth checked his momentum. But only briefly.

Having reached the turn in four-under, he followed up with three more birdies on the back nine.

However, a double-bogey at the par-four 17^th ensured his lead in the chase to win the tournament, which carries a £15,000 prize fund, was not as healthy as it could have been.

Consequently, a trio comprising compatriot, Asbri Golf’s Richard Dinsdale, Matthew Turner, and Paul Hendriksen, are just a shot adrift after posting rounds of three-under.

Meanwhile, James Ruth, who leads the Order of Merit and is 70 points clear of Hunt, is well-placed to consolidate if not improve his advantage after an opening round of one-under.

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