Dixon and Mason show the way in Par 3 event

Two stars from the European Tour and Senior Tour entertained crowds at Nailcote Hall on the first day’s play at the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship.

David Dixon and Carl Mason both shot rounds of three under par to take a one shot lead over James Harris of Nevill Golf Club, Kent.

Mason, who holds the record for the most amount of Senior Tour victories won, has won the prestigious competition previously in 1999 when he shot a course record at Nailcote Hall.

Dixon who won the St Omer Open on the European Tour in 2008 looked in fine form as he has his sights set on winning the incredible £15,000 on offer in Warwickshire.

Dixon said: “I felt comfortable out there today, this course is extremely demanding and challenging but I felt I dealt with the conditions well and I am looking forward to going out tomorrow and hopefully playing as well as I did today”

Last year’s winner Richard O’Hanlon is currently six shots off the lead and believes he is still in with a chance of winning this year,

He said: “Three-under is leading but there’s nothing to stop those guys from dropping a couple of shots early on. I had just one bad hole – the sixth on the second time around – when I hit a tree and it fell behind a bush. I managed to get it up and down and made a double.

“I then three-putted the next and that was three shots just whittled away! I shot three-under last year and it wasn’t windy. Today it was blowing a hoolie.”

Tickets are still available for today’s play and for the second celebrity golf day taking place tomorrow.

*For more information and tickets visit www.britishpar3.com