Andrew marches home at Knowle

Gloucester and Somerset PGA chairman Andrew March won the Knowle medal for the second successive season to gain his first outright win in two years.

It was the perfect start to the new season for the Brean director of golf as he shot a four-under-par 66.

March, who is also this year’s PGA in England and Wales (South West) captain, beat Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre) and Tom Hiscock, who recently moved to Henbury from Devon and was playing in his first county event.

On a short-sleeved day March birdied the second and fifth before an errant tee shot at the seventh led to his only bogey.

A six-foot chance at the short 10^th, followed by birdies at the last two par fives, the 13^th and 18^th, where he tapped in after an excellent bunker shot, completed a fine day.

Licata missed last week’s matchplay because of the birth of his second daughter but he was quickly back into the groove that brought him the Total Triumph Order of Merit title last season. He made a rapid start by picking up shots at the first, second, fifth, and seventh.

He added further birdies at the 11^th and 12^th before dropping a shot at the 14^th and two more at the 17^th.

Newcomer Hiscock showed he will be a force to be reckoned with as he made four birdies and dropped his only shot at the short 15^th.

Cirencester’s Ed Goodwin, Mendip’s Kevin Pitts and Nigel Warburton from the host club shared fourth spot and also the over 40’s sweep on 69.