Bond seeks Total Triumph repeat

Defending champion Liam Bond (above) views success in last year’s Total Triumph Classic as the platform for his most exciting season.

The Race to Woodbury Park Order of Merit winner, who won four of the six OOM events he entered and made the cut in the Wales Open on the European Tour, feels the Classic at Oake Manor Golf Club, near Taunton, which tees off tomorrow, could kick-start his season

The 43-year-old Marriott St Pierre player said: “I did pretty well in the Saunton Classic opening event where I was 10th but I have hardly played. I am looking forward to returning to Oake Manor and this year it’s even more special for me as it is the last tournament before I play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

“I practiced in Spain last week on one of my golf holiday trips and feel my game is in shape and is approaching where it was this time last season.

“If I play as well as I know I can I am confident of doing well at Wentworth. Celtic Manor came at the right time for me last year as I was on top form. Winning at Oake Manor next week would be the perfect preparation for my next big test.”

But David Dixon (above) is the man in form this year and the one to beat. The Enmore Park player achieved a five-shot success at Saunton, returning nine-under-par 62 in the opening round. Then he was ten-under in winning at Minchinhampton last week.

He joins Ben Martin (Exeter) and Challenge Tour player Kevin Harper (Sidmouth) in the first round of the 36-hole tournament that features 40 top amateurs playing alongside the leading professionals on the second day in their own special challenge.

Amateur entries close on May 12 and Somerset county player Matt Kippen (Enmore Park), last year’s winner, was an early entry.

One special match features three players warming up for the European Seniors’ Tour which starts next month. They are George Ryall (Players), who leads the West’s seniors, order of merit, Kevin Spurgeon (Ferndown) who is second, and double European Tour winner Andrew Sherborne who is now attached to Trevose.

A dozen players could be in contention such is the strength of the region. Former Tour men Stuart Little (Minchinhampton), Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy), Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) and James Ruth (China Fleet) invariably challenge at the top.