Dixon wins Total Triumph Strokeplay Championship

Enmore Park touring professional David Dixon has become the man to beat in the West this year after failing to regain his European Tour card.

Now he has added the Gloucester and Somerset PGA Total Triumph Strokeplay Championship to his impressive list of success. Rounds of 74 and 67 at Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club brought a two-shot win over Cirencester’s Ed Goodwin.

Meanwhile Bristol Golf Centre’s Giuseppe Licata was crowned the Total Triumph Order of Merit champion for his consistency during the Winter Series of medals around the two counties.

A wet and windy day posed many problems and only one round bettered par of 69 in the 21-strong field. That came from Dixon after lunch as he set about repairing the damage of his lacklustre 74 of the morning.

Surprisingly, given his recent glut of birdies and eagles, par was his best on any hole in his morning circuit of the Corfe venue. But he managed four in the second round and dropped just two shots.

Licata and PGA board member and newly installed Burnham and Berrow professional David Haines shared the halfway lead on 69 but were unable to hold on carding 75 and 77 respectively to take third and fourth.

So Cirencester’s Ed Goodwin was Dixon’s closest challenger following 72 with 73 to finish runner-up. G&S PGA chairman Andrew March, the new director of golf at Brean in succession to Haines, was another player to better his morning score. Rounds of 74 and 73 brought fifth spot one ahead of The Mendip’s Kevin Pitts on 148 (73,75).

Licata claimed his second OOM title leaving 2013 winner Goodwin in second spot. Long Ashton’s Roy Holland missed the championship because of flu and slipped from third to fifth. Chipping Sodbury’s Robin Goodey took third with Haines fourth and Nick Ellis (Naunton Downs) sixth.

Goodey, Licata and Goodwin will represent the two counties in the County Championship qualifier at Woodbury Park in September.