Andrew marches to victory at Knowle

Andrew March celebrated his appointment as the new PGA in England and Wales (West) captain by winning his first Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal of the season at Knowle.

The Brean head pro, who is also the counties’ chairman, returned with a one-under-par score of 68 to tie for first place with Enmore Park’s David Dixon, Bristol Golf Centre’s Giuseppe Licata, Knowle amateur Louis O’Regan and Cirencester head pro Ed Goodwin.

The first PGA medal at Knowle for four years attracted an entry or more than 30 who enjoyed one of the best days of 2014. Despite bright sunshine and light winds the effects of the recent wet weather made scoring tricky.

March made a swift return to form after missing the previous week as his young son was having an operation in Bristol. He made a birdie four at the final hole to level with playing partner Dixon, the previous week’s winner at Naunton Downs.

Total Triumph Order of Merit leader Licata never gave his rivals much chance to close the gap he has created. O’Regan included four birdies and an eagle which would have collected him the birdie sweep had he entered. Goodwin, who is trying hard to retain his Order of Merit title, was the fifth player to post the winning score.

Roy Holland (Long Ashton) who was sixth on 70 collected the birdie money for his haul of five. Nick Ellis (Naunton Downs) claimed the Over 40’s sweep with 72.