Dorset pros to the fore at Dudsbury

Dorset professionals lead the way in the Dudsbury Masters West Region PGA Ringwood Brewery-sponsored Order of Merit tournament at the acclaimed Longham course next week.

There will be a festival atmosphere at the 36-hole event on Tuesday and Wednesday, preceded by a gala Pro-Am featuring 29 teams of professionals and local amateurs on Monday, which has attracted more than 100 leading West and Wales players.

They include 20 from the Bournemouth area with Ferndown's James Wilson (above), Tom Green (Parkstone) and former Playgolf Bournemouth man Dan Clark, who has now linked up with Nigel Tokely at Remedy Oak, teeing off first at 7.30am. Parkstone pair Alice Davis and James Baldwin and Broadstone club pro Adrian Harris also lead pro-am teams.

Several former local order of merit winners at Dudsbury will include last year’s champion and former Bournemouth Alliance captain Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre, Weymouth), Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest), Lee Thompson and Mark Wiggett (both Dudsbury) and Andy Beal (Salisbury).

Surprisingly Martyn Thompson (Parkstone) and Paul Jones (Canford Magna) – two of the area’s most prolific winners – will be seeking their first order of merit crown at Dudsbury.

Home professional Adam Sawyer and Andy Windsor (Knighton Heath) are capable of causing an upset as is Danny Lee, the Rushmore professional who has featured strongly in regional events this year.

Former European Tour players Stuart Little (Minchinhampton), David Dixon (Enmore Park) and Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) and 2012 winner Matt Dearden (Llantrisant and Pontyclun) will be strong challengers.

Devon’s Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton) is another major contender as he heads the order of merit after winning the opening tournament, the Total Triumph Classic at Oake Manor, near Taunton. Cornwall’s Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew) joined Dixon in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last month and is expected to make a powerful bid.

Kevin Hind, the new West PGA secretary who lives at nearby Corfe Castle, said: “This has become an important tournament, thanks to the support from Ringwood Brewery, and the expected high standard of play will complement the quality of the Dudsbury course.”