Holland wins at Stinchcombe

Long Ashton’s Roy Holland maintained his impressive end-of-year form by winning the Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal at Stinchcombe Hill for the second year running.

He reeled off his fifth consecutive top four finish in his second win of the season as he navigated the Cotswold layout in four-under-par 64 to head off Bristol Golf Centre’s Giuseppe Licata by a single shot.

It was a re-run at the Dursley venue after the first attempt has been ruled out by heavy rain in October. But thick fog shrouded the course early although the cloud lifted so the 29 players could complete the final event of 2013.

Holland opened with a birdie, dropped a shot at the tricky par three fourth for his only bogey of the round. The short sixth yielded another birdie and he advanced to three-under with four consecutive threes from the ninth. His final birdie came at the 15th.

Total Triumph Order of Merit leader Licata spurned a chance to tie Holland by taking three putts for par at the par five closing hole. He also carded five birdies the second, third, sixth, 12th and 14th to share of the birdie sweep with Holland and Scott Thompson (Bleadon).

Paul Barrington (The Players) claimed third by picking up three birdies in the closing five holes and also took top spot in the Over 45’s sweep for 67.  Nick Ellis (Naunton Downs) and Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) were fourth on 68 with Andrew March (Brean), Robin Goodey (Chipping Sodbury), Martin Keitch (Taunton Vale) and Kevin Pitts (Mendip) a further shot behind.