Ross Langdon showed his liking for links golf despite playing mostly on parkland lay-outs by leading the PGA South West North Devon Links Festival at the end of the second round.
Langdon, who is attached to land-locked Brickhampton Court in Gloucestershire, followed up his level par negotiation of wind-ravaged Royal North Devon with a sub-par round on day two of the Festival on the West course at Saunton.
He and the other 35 pros in the field were faced with conditions more conducive to par-busting golf on day two than they had been 24 hours earlier; indeed, the course was bathed in sunshine for much of the afternoon, although a stiff breeze posed problems.
“There was a little bit of wind today,” Langdon reflected after his two-under par round of 69 left him two-under for the tournament going into the final day on Saunton’s East course.
“But the wind was not as bad as yesterday. That’s the hardest I’ve seen Royal North Devon play, so it was a bit more enjoyable today.”
Langdon’s enjoyment was fuelled by five birdies but tempered by a bogey on the par-four seventh and a double on the par-four 13th.
“I messed up on the 13th,” he continued, “but you’re going to make a few errors, I guess. It’s a case of keeping going and overall, I played well, especially from tee to green. I also had three twos, so I’m very pleased.”
The last of those twos came courtesy of a 40-foot putt on the par-three 18th, which proved pivotal in Langdon remaining a shot clear of the chasing pack led by Bowood Park’s Joe Cruse.
He also birdied the 18th for a three-under par round of 68 – the best of the day and tournament so far.
And, in addition to trimming Langdon’s lead, it ensured he put daylight between himself and Jess Smart and Jamie Clare who, emulating Langdon’s round of two-under, are level par for the tournament.
Smart, who is attached to the venue, clearly made the most of local knowledge.
“My game plan was to keep the ball in play, especially off the tee,” she explained, “and then just knowing where to put the ball on the greens compared to where the flag is. There are some places where you don't want to go, and some places where it's a bit better, a bit easier.”
Smart is also faring well in the team competition. Her team, comprising Saunton’s ladies captain Julie Gavin and two other club members lie tied-fourth with 157 Stableford points, seven adrift of Cruse’s quartet.
