Haines triumphs despite double bogey finish
22/01/2015
David Haines claimed all the prizes as he won his first Gloucester and Somerset PGA Winter Medal season on a relatively benign day by the sea at Minehead.
The PGA Board member and new Burnham and Berrow head professional posted the only sub-par score of the day with a one-under 71. He won the birdie sweep with five and also took the Over-40s award.
But he suffered one nervous moment at the notorious final hole on a chilly but dry day at Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club, the western outpost for the two counties that attracted a field of 23.
The testing par three ruins many cards and Haines suffered a double bogey after looking to be the comfortable winner. He was the only professional to take more than four at the hole. But he overcame the challenge from the consistent Giuseppe Licata.
The Sicilian from Bristol Golf Centre, who went home to watch his famous cousin, Commonwealth Games gymnast gold medallist Claudia Fragapane, make her debut on BBC’s Question of Sport, extended his lead in the Total Triumph Order of Merit.
He finished one shot behind Haines who started with birdies at the first and third holes and added others at the 11th, 15th and 16th. Licata made three birdies at the first, 11th and 17th but dropped shots at the seventh, ninth and 12th.
David Dixon (Enmore Park) and Nick Ellis, who travelled more than 100 miles from Naunton Downs in the Cotswolds, shared third on 73, one better than Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) and European Seniors tour man George Ryall (Players Club).
