Watson heads Players Championship

Order of Merit leader Michael Watson once again impressed after tying for first place with amateur Ali James following 18 holes in the West Players Championship at Cumberwell Park.

Man of the moment Watson, above, carded the only error free round of the day, including birdies as the seventh, ninth, 11th, 12th and 15th, to give him a great chance of extending his lead at the top.

Fellow leader James posted a five-under-par 66 to mount his finest challenge since he became the first amateur for six years to win a West Region PGA Order of Merit tournament in 2011. Liam Bond (Marriott  St Pierre) has since emerged on top during the last two years.

He started with a birdie over the course his family built and added four in a row from the ninth before finding trouble on the tough 482-yard 15^th where he made six. Two further birdies followed.

Former Ryder Cup winner Phillip Price, who was making his debut in the event, lurks one shot behind after a tidy 67 that contained six birdies and dropped shots at the second and the notorious 15^th.

They formed an attractive final three-ball in today’s final round.

Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy), runner-up to Watson in the previous OOM event, the Dudsbury Masters, shared third with fellow Welshman Price after a bogey at the second and five birdies. Today he partnered another Welshman Cennydd Mills (Pyle and Kenfig) and the West’s latest PGA Cup player Nick Brennan (Bowood) who carded three-under-par 68.

Ross Whitelock (St Mellion), Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton) and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) also started today on 68 in a share of fifth and played together.

But it remains wide open as 41 players are on even par or better. They include European Tour winner Stephen Dodd, following his play-off victory in the Welsh National Championship at Royal St Davids last week, Saunton Classic winner David Dixon (Enmore Park) Russ Berry (Professional Golf Europe Ltd), Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) and Paul Jones (Canford Magna), who shared top spot in the pro-am.

Ross Whitelock (St Mellion), Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton) and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) also started today on 68 in a share of fifth and played together.

But it remains wide open as 41 players are on even par or better. They include European Tour winner Stephen Dodd, following his play-off victory in the Welsh National Championship at Royal St Davids last week, Saunton Classic winner David Dixon (Enmore Park) Russ Berry (Professional Golf Europe Ltd), Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) and Paul Jones (Canford Magna), who shared top spot in the pro-am.