Back nine key for winner Ryall
02/02/2015
European Seniors Tour player George Ryall returned to one of his former clubs to win the Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal over the Weston-super-Mare links.
Ryall used his wealth of experience in some very testing conditions to shoot three-under-par 67 on a very cold day of frequent blustery and wintry showers. Local amateur Dan Toogood, who works in the club’s pro shop, and Enmore Park’s David Dixon tied for second one shot behind.
The final links venue of the season set a stern test and local knowledge is a big advantage in building a score on a course where the wind plays funny tricks with the golf ball as it swirls around the dunes. Ryall, now representing The Players Club, made his score on the back nine.
Birdies at the 18th, 11th, 13th and 17th brought him home in a best of the day 31 after an opening one-over 36. Toogood was the first to post a sub-par score in the opening three-ball.
But this was soon matched by Dixon who will play in the PGA Cup team in the autumn. He carded birdies at all three par-fives and suffered just the single bogey at the ninth when his drive found trouble.
Two players returning after short absences shared fourth. Ashley Mansell from nearby Clevedon, back after a month, returned a level-par round and took a share of the birdie sweep with his mentor Ryall.
Ian Brown (Newent) has endured some troublesome injuries in recent months but he showed no signs of the lay-off with another round of 70. Robin Goodey (Chipping Sodbury) was a shot behind in sixth.
The two Total Triumph Order of Merit leaders Giuseppe Licata and Ed Goodwin had days to forget.
