2024 Platinum
Firing a one-under 70 over the East course at the famed North Devon links, Mitchell tied with four others in the West Region qualifying round for the Glenmuir Club Professional Championship.
But significantly for the Bristol pro' his countback score for the inward half repelled all-comers. Caerphilly's James Lee did tie his 33 back nine, but on the last three holes the Welshman was a stroke worse.
"I thoroughly enjoyed myself", said Paul (pictured). "There were 70 players chasing 16 places in the Glenmuir final (to be held at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, 14 - 17 June), and it was nice to pick up the sponsors' commemorative crystal."
After a one-over front nine of 37, Mitchell gathered in birdies at the 10th, 15th and 16th, his only blemish a dropped shot at the 432-yard 14th, aptly named "The Narrows".
Tying the Bristol man's score were former English amateur champion, Jon Langmead, Somerset's John Goymer, Martyn Thompson, a former winner of the regional championship, and Lee, an experienced campaigner on the European Challenge Tour.
Langmead may be trying what he calls a juggling act between running his new club at Exminster and playing competitive golf - but whatever's suffering, it isn't his golf.
Only a niggling double bogey at the15th hole deprived him of being the outright winner. The former English amateur champion was happy with his performance, though. "I played well, and it was lovely to be at Saunton's East links - it's such a true test of the game."
Jon fashioned some sublime shots, none more so than his 9-iron at the last, which struck the flag from 150 yards, and rested close enough for his fifth birdie of the round. The blemishes on the card were two bogeys, at 14 and 17.
His bleakest moment, at the 463-yard par-five 15th, came after his second shot "landed in the cabbage. I took two swipes that hardly moved the ball; my next put it on the green, and then two putts meant a seven on the card."
Three putts at the 17th hole undid Lee's bid for an outright win. The 36-year-old head pro' at Caerphilly had struck some impressive shots but his glitch on the penultimate green meant he had to share top spot with four others. Two holes earlier he'd launched a majestic three-wood second shot 236 yards into the 15th green, setting up an eagle chance from 16 feet, which dribbled past the hole.
"My new job's important to me" Lee commented, "But I plan to be pretty competitive this year. I'll be playing a Challenge Tour event at the Vale of Glamorgan next month, and I'll be trying to qualify next week for the Wales Open."
After a year of relative inactivity, during which the Parkstone club built a new clubhouse and pro shop, Martyn Thompson plans to play full-time in the West Region this year.
And the Dorset pro' began in style yesterday, his 70 leaving him hugely satisfied with his day's work - even if he three-putted the 17th and lipped out from 15 feet at the last.
"I didn't hit a bad shot all day - and I can't say that very often" was Martyn's assessment of his round. He settled early on, hitting a confident 6-iron to 15 feet at the first without getting the expected birdie.
An 8-iron to two feet at the 402-yard seventh brought the first gain, and further birdies at the 13th and 15th, although offset by three putts at both the 10th and 17th, set up his 70.