Dixon delight at Mendip

Enmore Park’s David Dixon notched win number two of the Gloucester and Somerset PGA Winter Medal season carding three-under-par 68 at The Mendip.

This provided a two shot cushion over the in-form Roy Holland (Long Ashton) who was the only other player to beat the par of 71.

Dixon, who failed to regain his European Tour card two weeks ago, showed some good form on a course which sits high above the city of Wells where he has fond memories from his days as a Somerset amateur.

He was three-under the card after making birdies at the first, third and fourth ahead of a run of pars to turn. He made a further gain at the 11th before his progress slowed with bogeys at the 12th and 15th. The short par four closing hole always offers a good birdie chance and Dixon took it.

Holland followed up last week’s win at Cleeve Hill with another solid showing. He was another with a good knowledge of the venue where he played his junior golf and was two-under-par after four holes.

But he dropped a shot at the fifth and, after three more shots disappeared in consecutive holes from the par five ninth, a sub-par score looked unlikely. However he finished strongly with four birdies in his last six holes.

He picked up shots at the 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th but made another bogey at the long par four 16th. His haul of six scooped the birdie sweep money to top up his day’s earnings.

PGA Board member David Haines (Brean) and Tall Pines assistant Luke Collins were joined by two Somerset amateurs, Johnny Grace (Saltford) and Matt Kippen (Enmore Park) in fourth on 71.

Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre) and Ed Goodwin (Cirencester), the leading pair in the Total Triumph Order of Merit, suffered off-days.

Although Licata maintained his number one position his nearest challenger is now Holland rather than the defending champion.