First win for Licata at Exeter

Chipping Sodbury teaching professional Giuseppe Licata led the Exeter Charity pro- am for more than two hours after an impressive round of five-under-par 64 but was then caught by Lee Thompson (Dudsbury ) and David Dixon (Enmore Park).

It was his first pro-am victory since success in the pro-am preceding the season Finale order of merit tournament at The Point at Polzeath last October although he dominated the Gloucester and Somerset PGA scene last winter.

But European Tour winner Dixon is cursing his luck after a spectacular start. He completed the front nine in six-under 29 and added a seventh birdie at the 12th. But he dropped two shots over the closing stretch.

Thompson was five under after eight holes helped by an eagle at the third. After two bogeys he rescued his round with birdies on the final two holes.

Lee Corfield (Burnham and Berrow) played the final seven holes in five under, Kevin Harper (East Devon) birdied four of the last six while Louis Boston (Chippenham) was six under after ten before being derailed by a triple bogey at the 15th.

Scoring was low on a perfect day and 19 players equalled or bettered par. The locals featured strongly with home assistants Tom Jessamine sixth and Ryan Pope ninth.

Former Teign Valley professional James Maxwell, now running Bunker Indoor Golf, led Paul Naden, Jack Moxey and Aaron Lee to win the team prize on 18-under-par 120.

Pope, supported by Mark Champion, Paul Champion and Mike Champion was second one shot behind while six birdies by Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) helped Steve Rice, Patrick Williams and Neil Chard into third on 122.