Captain Ellis is no fool at Long Ashton

Gloucester and Somerset PGA captain Nick Ellis claimed his second win of the season at Long Ashton with a one-over-par round of 72 on April Fool’s Day.

But the Naunton Downs player was in no mood for playing pranks as he finished two shots clear of George Ryall (Players Club) when a field of 30 returned to the Bristol venue after a couple of years absence.

Although the gales of the previous two days died down it was still very windy so no-one matched par. Even a couple of five putts were reported to difficult pin positions.

Ellis made birdies at the eighth, 16^th and 18^th but dropped shots at the first, third, ninth and 17^th as he strengthened fourth place in the Total Triumph Order of Merit.

Ryall was steady over the front nine as he managed to keep the ball below the hole in making two birdies and seven pars but on the homeward run he got out of position a few times and suffered with three bogeys and a double on the 12^th.

Oake Manor assistant Alex Munro recorded his best finish of the season carding 75 to take third. He made a solitary birdie at the eighth but dropped five shots.

Leading OOM duo Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre) and Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) both finished inside the top ten. Although Goodwin gained a couple of points, it seems certain Licata will retain his title.

The other battle is for the top 16 places to qualify for the Marston’s Matchplay. Defending champion Daryl Kelley (Filton) is currently in the final qualifying spot.