PGA Trainees Ali Balcombe and Sam Edwards kept some experienced challengers at bay to set the pace in the opening round of the PGA South West Carlsberg Marstons-sponsored Woodbury Park Masters.
Paired together with Bude and North Cornwall’s Adam Curtis completing the three ball, there was an element of match play as both posted five-under par rounds of 67 to lead the tournament at its half way stage.
That, however, looked an unlikely scenario for Balcombe two thirds of the way through his negotiation of Woodbury Park’s Oaks course.
The 28-year-old who is attached to Weston Super Mare Golf Club was one-under par at that stage but an eagle at the par-five 14th lit the blue touch paper for a high-octane finish.
A bogey at the par-three 15th erased half the benefit gained by the eagle before three successive birdies completed the turnaround.
Meanwhile, having completed the front nine in one-under, Bigbury Golf Club's Edwards (pictured) also had good cause to celebrate three birdies on the bounce, his coming immediately after the turn at a succession of par-fours.
The pair will resume their head-to-head in the second round with some accomplished opponents primed to capitalise on any slip ups, not least Whitchurch Golf Club’s Toby Hunt, the Order of Merit leader who will play with them.
Having reached the turn in level par, the Welshman reprised the form that helped him win the West Region Championship at Woodbury Park a year ago by recording four birdies on the back nine to finish a shot off the lead.
His compatriot, four-time Welsh National PGA Championship winner, Morlais Castle’s Sion Bebb, is also on four-under, a shot clear of MiGolf’s James Ruth and Luke Derrick of Clevedon Golf Club.
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