By George it’s Ryall at last

European seniors Tour player George Ryall  (Players Golf Club) achieved his first West win for three years with a three-under-par round of 67 in the 44-team Oake Manor pro-am.

As in his previous success at The Mendip in 2012, he shared top spot – this time with prolific winners James Ruth (China Fleet) and David Dixon (Enmore Park).

But he made it a double by also leading home the Coomber Fire and Security team of Steve Coomber, Melvin Oxley and Jason Brock in 18-under-par 122.

Ryall, who will be 57 this month, shaped his round with four successive birdies from the third and finished with two birdies after dropping three shots. Dixon made three successive birdie threes to be out in an impressive 32 but his only other gain came at the last.

Ruth made two birdies and dropped three shots in an outward one-over 36 but roared home in style with birdies at the 13th and 17th and an eagle three at the 15th for his eighth win in his most successful season in the West.

Home professional Alex Munro produced his best tournament round with an encouraging 68 to share second with experienced Graham Howell (Ferndown

Forest) while occasional player Gary Milne (Exeter Golf & Country Club), Joe Ferguson (Celtic Manor) and Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew), the busiest player in the West, shared sixth on 69.

Ruth’s Colourtone team of Richard Goring, Keith Phillips and Dave Tilk finished three shots adrift in second on 125. But countback was needed to separate three teams on 128.

Ivybridge’s Paul Hendriksen and the Atom Insurance Brokers with Clive Thorne, Dave Hollow and Jim Greenhow claimed third. Simon Stevenson (Taunton and Pickeridge) led the Matt Durbin Associates team of Matt Durbin, Phil Coleman and Kleighton Butland into fourth followed by Dixon and the Steve Bristow Stone Masonry trio of Steve Bristow, Paul McGlinchey and Adrian Metters.