Dearden seeks back-to-back wins

Matt Dearden (above) has declared himself fit to continue his bid to win the South West Order of Merit next week after recovering from a hand injury suffered while winning the previous tournament at Oake Manor.

He said: “I pulled a tendon in my right thumb at the Total Triumph Classic and have only played once since. I’ve been able to practice and I’ll be fighting fit for Dudsbury.

“I can continue my challenge for the Order of Merit again and I’m looking forward to returning to Dudsbury as I have fond memories of my last visit two years ago when I won.”

The inaugural 36-hole Dudsbury Masters, supported by Ringwood Brewery, is staged on Tuesday and Wednesday July 1 and 2 and is preceded by a special championship pro-am.

The Llantristant and Pontyclun club professional’s success there in the Bournemouth Festival helped him win the 2012 OOM. He beat home player Lee Thompson in a play-off after making seven birdies on the back nine of his second round.

He was unable to play last year when Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton) achieved his first OOM victory. Both Thompson and club colleague Mark Wiggett have won at Dudsbury. So have former European Tour man Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) and Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest).

Although 2013 OOM winner Liam Bond’s (Marriott St Pierre) game has lost some of last year’s lustre, ominously he is returning to the form that brought four tournament victories. He recently finished second in the PGAs of Europe Aegean Airlines Pro-Am in Greece and followed with sixth place in the PGA Europro event at Cumberwell Park last week.

Dearden starts in third place, 100 points behind David Dixon (Enmore Park) whose bid to extend his OOM lead will have to wait as he is playing in Final Qualifying for The Open next week.

Dixon won the opening tournament at Saunton and tied for third at Oake Manor.

Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew) is another player who yearns to return to the European stage he graced in 2010 after earning European Tour and Challenge Tour starts from the PGA Play-Offs. The 2006 Midlands Order of Merit champion, who also won the British Par 3 title, lies second 90 points behind Dixon.

“That is my target again this year,” he said. “Playing in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth was one of my best moments in golf and I want to repeat that feeling.”

Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre, Weymouth) is always a force in his native county while another ex-Tour player Stuart Little (Minchinhampton), Russell Berry (Professional Golf Europe Ltd) and Cennydd Mills (Pyle & Kenfig) invariably play well at Dudsbury.