Herefordshire duo finish in top three at Villaitana (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire duo finish in top three at Villaitana

8:00am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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TWO Herefordshire golfers have finished in the top three of a professional competition in Spain.

Belmont’s Pete James was the runner-up after being edged out in a play-off in the 2010 Villaitana Open.

Burghill Valley’s Kris Jones also shone and finished joint-third in the first event of the Hi5 Pro Tour 2010.

Jones had travelled to Spain to practise with a friend from Shropshire.

Jones entered the competition at the last minute and he now intends to compete in the next four events.

James and Jones know each other well having been pairs partners for two years in the Shropshire & Herefordshire Junior County Team.

James, who also plays at Celtic Manor near Newport, thought he had won the tournament after sinking a 10-foot putt on the last hole.

However, Sweden’s Robert Svensson birdied the 18th hole to draw level with James on -1.

Svensson then prevailed in a tightly-fought play-off to secure his first win on the Hi5 Pro Tour.

James, 22, said he was disappointed about finishing second but happy with his progress.

“My putting was excellent on very tricky greens and my swing has also come on over the winter,” said James, who is coached by Carl Watts.

“I am feeling very confident for the season and I can’t wait for the next event.”

James and Jones will be heading back to Spain this weekend for the next round of the Hi5 Pro Tour.

James will soon be concentrating on the Alps Tour, which kicks off in the middle of March.

A top-five position in that competition would give James a place on the European Challenge Tour.

Jones, who is also aged 22, was joint-third in the Villaitana Open alongside defending champion Carlos Garcia from Spain. The duo both finished at level par.

Jones has his sights fixed on the Euro Pro Tour and the Jamega Pro Tour.

“I had a big sponsorship deal in October and it has been a very good start to the year,” said Jones.

q Andy Brace and Alan Jones are top of Burghill Valley GC’s men’s Winter League competition.

Brace and Jones head the field with 126 points after five rounds, while Lee Harris and Paul Bloise are just one point behind in second spot.

Mick Fothergill and Dereck Brown are in third place with a total of 123 points.

Roger Cleeves, Tom Inglis and Brian McDonnell won the seniors’ Texas Scramble with a return of 60.13.

Don Barrington, Mike Buffey and Norman Goodman were second with 60.79.

Terry Bottomly, Charlie McInnes and Mac Park finished in third spot after shooting 61.87.

q Norman Sockett triumphed in the low handicap section of a seniors’ stableford competition at Herefordshire GC.

Socket took first place with a superb tally of 47 points, while Graham Davies was second with 44 points and Reg Dudman, third, with 42 points.

Roger Wardle won the high handicap section with 40 points, while Ray Morris was second on a countback from third-placed Nigel Yarwood. Both players shot 39 points.

q Maurice Embrey shot 34 points to win a seniors’ stableford at Belmont GC.

John Alexander (32 points) was the runner-up and third place went to Gordon Bumfrey (31 points).

Alex Quinn took first place in a seniors’ stableford after carding 36 points.

Terry Thomas was second with 34 points, while Paul Gosling took third spot after carding 34 points.

q Dave Hartland secured a hole-in-one on the 18th in an Untouchables’ Golf Society match at Kington GC.

Ron Davies-Jones, George Farr and Joe James carded 49 points to top a 12-hole Texas scramble.

Dennis Whyke, Mike Richards and Richie Thwaites were second after shooting 48 points.