Hendriksen takes halfway lead at Oake
14/05/2015
David Dixon (Enmore Park) and Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew) warmed up in style for next week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on the first day of the Total Triumph Classic.
They produced impressive rounds of five-under-par 65 during the opening Order of Merit event of the season at Oake Manor and were joined by promising Ashley Mansell (Clevedon) and veteran Bournemouth pair Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) and Martyn Thompson (Parkstone).
But the day belonged to Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton) who leads the 36-hole event by two shots after an almost faultless seven-under-par 63.
On a perfect sunny and virtually windless day, 24 players carded sub-par rounds while seven who returned one-over-par missed the cut. Former Order of Merit tournament winners Ross Jones (InPlay Golf, Bristol) and Richard Dinsdale (Parc) failed to qualify.
The day belonged to Hendriksen who has proved to be a course specialist over the years. He lost a play-off to Barry Austin (Downes Crediton) in 2011, was runner-up the following year and was third last year.
He has since always finished in the top seven and has won two pro-ams over the attractive course. He embarked on a run of six birdies in nine holes from the ninth as he returned in 30.
“It’s a nice lay-out that clearly suits my game,” he said. “Although I scored well I am not happy with my game at the moment. I just hope I can get more control of the ball in the second round than I did today.
“But my scoring was good enough with eight birdies and just one dropped shot at the seventh so I hope to build on this in the second round.”
Dixon and Mansell made six birdies, each also dropping a shot on the 340-yard seventh. Mansell finished with four successive birdies. Lee Thompson signed for seven birdies, while Martyn Thompson was out in four-under-par 31 and added an eagle at the 15th.
O’Hanlon looked comfortable when he made his seventh birdie on the par-five 15th. But he faltered by dropping shots on the final two holes.
Occasional player Sean Mason (Exeter) lies seventh on four-under while Danny Lee (Rushmore), Toby Hunt (St Mellons) and James Ruth (China Fleet) finished one shot further back.
For today’s final 18 holes the leading 40 players are accompanied by a field of 80 amateurs who are competing in their own event in a unique contest. They include defending champion Matt Kippen (Enmore Park).
