BROADSTONE professional Tracy Loveys shot the round of her life at Weymouth, thanks to two local physiotherapists who sorted out a recurring back problem a couple of days earlier.

She traced the trouble to her appearance in the WPGA Wales Open at the new Nicklaus-designed Machynys Peninsula Golf Club in Llanelli earlier in the month. She was forced to leave the course after 12 holes of her second round.

She said: "There was no way I could continue and I had heard about these two physios Liz and Fiona who work on golf injuries so I went to them."

The result was a remarkable five-under-par 65 for the lowest round of her career on the course where she grew up.

This put her in a tie for second place in the annual pro-am with the consistent Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest), one stroke behind winner Barry Austin (Crediton).

The packed clubhouse erupted when she stepped up to receive her cheque for £534 at the presentation.

Weymouth is her home club and it was there that she learned to play as a schoolgirl. She is always made welcome on her infrequent return visits.

The standing ovation was richly deserved for she said: "I can't recall playing a lower round there, although I only visit once a year now. I hit 16 greens and had only 29 putts."

She was also happy that her mother, Doreen, a non-golfer, watched every shot for she acted as caddy for the day.

But her feat will not be allowed to stand as a record as she did not play the complete round off the ladies' tees.

A female professional is obliged to play a course within 10-per-cent of the yardage tackled by the men. So she played the four par threes off the yellow tees.

Her playing season will shortly come to a close. The final Women's PGA medal is at Walmley, Birmingham, on September 5. In her previous pro-am at Bridport she carded a five-under-par 67.

"I had a poor start to the season but have managed a blistering finish," she added.

David Miles (Meyrick Park) also enjoyed himself in the 50-team pro-am. He finished fourth on 67 - and also led in the winning team on 18-under-par 122 to take his day's return past £550.

Rod Davis (Iford), Michael Watson (Weymouth) and Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) were in a six-way tie for sixth on 69, winning £176 each.

Talented Rod Davis is gambling on playing well in the final two West Region PGA order of merit tournaments if he is to earn places in the BMW International at Wentworth and the Celtic Manor Wales Open next year.

After two impressive performances in the opening two events, the manager of the Iford Golf Centre has opted to miss this week's tournament, the Phillip Price Challenge at Pontypridd.

He said: "I am very busy this week and we have a company day tomorrow so I have been unable to enter. I'll just have to make sure I score well in the others."

He is entering the West Region championship at Chipping Sodbury next month and the Welsh Classic at Pennard in October. The best four returns from the five order of merit tournaments count.

After finishing third in the Welsh Masters at Marriott St Pierre and fifth in the Wood-BMW Classic at Dudsbury, 36-year-old Davis rose to third place in the order of merit.

Lee Thompson (Dudsbury), last year's winner, lies second to Jon Langmead (Exminster) who won last year's tournament at Pontypridd.

Thompson leads a strong Dorset contingent this week that includes club colleagues Mark Wiggett, who was runner-up last year, and Steve Thorne, Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest), Richard Pullen (Ashley Wood), Paul Jones (Canford Magna), Carl Jessup (Knighton Heath) and David Miles (Meyrick Park) seeking the £1,800 first prize.

Ferndown touring professional Dean Barnes shot the outstanding round of his fledgling career in the Eurpro tournament at China Fleet last week but was unable to capitalise.

He opened with seven-under-par 65 on the Cornwall course to take a one-shot lead on the opening day.

Playing in the final game, he dropped just one shot during his first round and carded eight birdies, playing the front nine in four-under.

He followed his solitary bogey at the 17th with a birdie the final hole to stay ahead.

"I played pretty solid throughout the round," said Barnes. "Apart from three-putting at the 17th I made almost no mistakes, which was pleasing.

"I had a game plan and stuck to it. I attacked certain holes that I felt I could and everything went for me, but you need that in a round like this."

But, such is the fierce competition, a par round of 72 on the second day sent him sliding down the leaderboard to sixth. A final 74 was even more damaging as he plummeted to joint 20th on 211, nine off the pace, and a made just £385.

That took his Europro Tour earnings to £1,462 for the season from 11 tournaments. He picked up a cheque for £250 in the previous event when he tied in 33rd place at Hollins Hall, Leeds. He scored 74, 71, 71 to equal par.

Another former Dorset amateur star Tom Peacock is also finding life difficult.

He missed the cut after two rounds at Leeds and both players suffered the same fate in the previous event, the Oakley Open.

Peacock's meagre reward this year is £917 from seven events.

Parkston'e first mixed invitation team tournament was won by Peter and Penny Davidson and guests Hugh and Gay Bell from Broadstone.

They carded 85 stableford points in a two-scores-to-count format. They pipped Nigel Ward and Sally Curry, playing with Broadstone's Chris and Karen Tapper on countback.

Brian and Sue Dean, playing with Moors Valley's Alan and Margaret Excell, were third on 79.