Red-hot putter is the key to success for Le Huray
TOM LE HURAY has taken pole position in the race for a spot in the Guernsey Inter-Insular team.
The Royal Guernsey man won the opening event on the new Order of Merit, introduced by island captain Danny Vennard, as he lifted the Piccadilly Trophy on Saturday, finishing on a five-over-par scratch aggregate of 145 to edge out playing partner Danny Blondel by a single shot.
After a level-par morning round of 70, which included birdies at the sixth and 16th holes, Le Huray went off the boil after lunch, but his putter came to his rescue and his 75 matched Blondel in the afternoon to see him to victory.
‘The major aim for me always is to get in the island team and now with the Order of Merit this helps obviously – 30 points to start, it takes the pressure off a little bit now I’ve got the win under my belt,’ Le Huray said.
The top five in the Piccadilly ended up as a list of island regulars, with Jack Mitchell edging out Jeremy Nicolle for third on countback with both finishing on 147 while a shot further back was Steve Mahy.
The first-round leader in the Piccadilly after the outstanding round of the day was Tom Pattimore.
He was out in 32 with no dropped shots for the front nine and birdies coming at the second, third and seventh holes.
His sole bogey of the round came at the 15th as he returned a 68 for the only sub-par round of the day.
That set up the four-handicap from L’Ancresse for victory in the Brymay Cup off handicap, despite an afternoon round of 79 gross.
More in Monday's Guernsey Press.
