James Ruth and Alister Balcombe produced red hot golf that matched the scorching temperatures on the opening day of the PGA West Region Championship at the Players Club.
Both posted eight-under par totals of 64 to lead the region’s second Order of Merit event of the campaign at the halfway stage but there the similarities ended.
Simply put, in football parlance they experienced a game of two halves.
Balcombe, who represents Weston Super Mare Golf Club, enjoyed a high-octane start and seemingly had the course on the cusp of Bristol at his mercy when he reached the turn.
An eagle at the par-five fifth contributed to him negotiating the front nine in six-under but, in comparison with what had preceded it, his journey on the way home was somewhat low key.
It featured three birdies tempered by a solitary bogey and prompted thoughts that the back nine presented more challenges than the opening half. Ruth, however, made a nonsense of that notion.
Having given his rivals false hope that he was set to experience a bad day at the office by bogeying the first hole, the reigning Order of Merit champion was two-under at the halfway stage.
Thereafter, the 2024 Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup player who carries the standard for Studio One and Flying Fish ignited the afterburners.
Four birdies and an eagle at the par-five 11th followed to ensure he shared pole position in the quest for the £2,500 first prize after 18 of the tournament’s 36-holes.
Par-wrecking golf was not confined to Balcombe and Ruth, however.
Whitchurch Golf Club’s and Ruth’s 2024 PGA Cup team-mate Toby Hunt is on seven-under after a round that included an eagle at the par-four seventh – as is Chippenham Golf Club’s Jamie Cooper.
Bowood Park Golf Club’s Joe Cruse is a shot further back in a 79-strong field of which 19 broke par.
Ben Christey-Clover, who is on level par, was one of those who did not but he was responsible for the shot of the day that resulted in a hole-in-one at the par three 16th.
