Ed's the man at Minch

Cirencester's Ed Goodwin won his first Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal of the New Year over the Minchinhampton Common course with a sensational nine-under-par 62.

After an opening birdie he added four more in succession from the third and another at the ninth took him out in 31. He repeated the score on the return trip, despite a bogey at the 11th when he three-putted. Then he made an eagle at the 12th and birdie twos at the 14th and 16th.

Giuseppe Licata (Chipping Sodbury) recovered from a shoulder injury to post 65 to trail by three shots. He also started well with four of his six birdies coming on the front nine in a blemish-free round.

Unattached Bristol professional Martin Dewhurst, who spends his summers coaching abroad, again showed promising form. He was six-under-par after six holes with an eagle and two birdies. But he was unable to maintain this amazing run with only one further birdie and two bogeys to follow.

Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court) and Nick Ellis (Naunton Downs) shared fourth on 67 ahead of a quartet of players on 68, including West Order of Merit winner Ashley Mansell (Clevedon).

The 35 players were able to start on time, despite early fog over the Cotswolds, and the committee's decision to instruct the players to adopt a Ready Golf approach paid off.

"No round lasted longer than three hours and 50 minutes which was most satisfactory," said Andrew March (Brean), chairman of both West Region and the dual counties.