It’s Watson again…..at last

Last year’s Order of Merit and money list winner Michael Watson bounced back to his top form with his first win in 10 months at Salisbury and South Wilts.

The Wessex Golf Centre pro’s best spell this summer came at Burnham & Berrow where he finished fourth in the Titleist PGA Professional Championship to earn a spot in the PGA Cup team to visit California next month.

But, despite an almost ever present attendance record in support of the South West region, he has failed to build on last year’s triumphs.

He even dropped a shot at the first and sixth holes at Salisbury but four birdies on the front nine followed by two more at the tenth and 13th and an eagle at the 491-yard 16th brought a winning six-under-par 65.

His last win was at the Burnham & Berrow pro-am last September.

Cornish Festival regular Jonathan Barnes, visiting from Lee-on-the-Solent, made an eagle two at the 318-yard 14th, and three birdies at the fifth, seventh and 15th to fashion the only blemish-free round of the day.

Watson’s fellow PGA Cup player David Dixon (Enmore Park) started with successive bogeys but accelerated with seven birdies, five in a back nine 31, to share second on 66.

Richard Dinsdale (Asbri Golf) made six birdies and dropped two shots en route to a 67 and fourth place.

Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) finished strongly with three birdies in the final five holes to share fifth with newcomer Dan Toogood  (Weston super Mare) who recovered from taking six on the second hole to record his best finish of the year with three birdies and an eagle at the par five seventh.

PGA Board member David Haines (Burnham & Berrow) led the winning team on 17-under 125, beating Watson’s trio on countback with visitor Chris Tyrrell (New Forest) and his team third on 128.