G&S secure route to the Belfry

Giuseppe Licata was the ace in the pack as Gloucester & Somerset secured a place in the PGA England & Wales Inter-County Championship final at the Belfry.

The Italian, from Bristol Golf Centre, defeated Ashburnham’s Martin Stimson in a play-off after a close-run event at Mendip Springs

Licata had scored a sensational 69 as he bossed the Bristol layout and, as his team’s best performer, went forward to represent his county over the deciding hole.

His teammates Ed Goodwin and George Ryall scored 73 and 72 respectively and, with the best two scores counting towards the total, they found themselves locked alongside rivals from the opposite side of the Severn Bridge on one-under-par 141.

But after Licata’s heroics in the play-off they will now progress to play in the final at the Warwickshire venue, which is famous for its ties with the Ryder Cup having hosted the biennial matchplay event on four occasions.

The showpiece event, which will be played over the PGA National Course, will take place on October 13-14.