Bisson and Mahy lead the Ravenscroft Open qualifiers
DAMIAN BENT finished with a one over par 66 at La Grande Mare yesterday to be among the eight qualifiers to go forward into tomorrow’s opening round of the Ravenscroft Open Matchplay.
He led for much of the day, but his excellent round was finally surpassed by island stars Danny Bisson and Steve Mahy, who came in with gross 65s, nett 66s.
Arthur Evans, a regular qualifier for the Ravenscroft came in with an early 67, and others to break gross 70 included Jeremy Nicolle and Daniel Griggs, who finished on the 69 mark.
Former Guernsey and CI champion Gary McFarlane also made the qualifying cut on countback, firing a 70 alongside David Jeffery, who struggled to a 76, but whose place in the main draw was already assured before a ball was struck.
Royal Guernsey duo Nicolle and Griggs set the early benchmarks as they went out among the first two groups at, and just after, 7.30.
Keeping an eye on Nicolle’s game was Guernsey’s non-playing captain, Danny Vennard, who was impressed by his playing partner’s general game and, in particular, his iron play.
But for two bad holes Nicolle would have been in the low 60s and the Island player bounced back well from the disappointment of an early ‘double’ when his ball ended up in a greenside bunker poached-egg style.
On the 14th he lost a ball off the tee and took seven, but otherwise it was a good display. ‘He deserved better than he scored,’ said Vennard, his playing partner.
Vennard heaped praise on the course.
‘It was immaculate and the greens really good.’
Isaac Bate, the 2017 island junior champion, and McFarlane completed the qualifiers, edging out Laurence Graham on countback.
Leading returns off scratch: 65 – Danny Bisson, Steve Mahy; 66 -Damian Bent; 67 - Arthur Evans; 69 - Jeremy Nicolle, Daniel Griggs; 70 - Isaac Bate, Laurence Graham, Gary McFarlane.
