Langdon’s winning streak continues at Minchinhampton

Ross Langdon completed a three-day hat-trick as he ran into form to dominate early West events.

The 30-year-old Brickhampton Court teaching professional started by winning the young professionals Sprint at Minehead. The next day he qualified for the English PGA final in the West heat at Chipping Sodbury and finally won £1,100 at Minchinhampton’s Common course.

This was hardly a surprise. He was joint runner-up last year after winning the previous season. He loves playing there in the first and biggest pro-am of the season that attracted 51 players starting at dawn.

The weather was kind as Langdon posted a flawless six-birdie 65 to leave Giuseppe Licata (Chipping Sodbury), another course specialist Tom Motley (South Cerney) and former PGA Cup-winning captain Jon Bevan (Sherborne) one shot behind.

Craig Melding (Neath), Dan Carter (Upavon), Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle), Paul Hendriksen  (Ivybridge) and Paul Jones (Ashley Wood) shared fifth on 66.

Licata and Melding each landed two eagles while Bevan made nine birdies with Carter and Bebb adding six each.

Such was the standard on a perfect day for scoring 26 players bettered par. No-one else earned money from the fund in excess of £7.000.

Jessica Bradley from Tiverton is becoming a real force now she has joined the PGA after playing on the Ladies European Tour. She easily won the women’s section with a three-under-par 68 containing five birdies, five better than runner-up Rhiannon Thomas (Dartmouth). She also qualified for the English PGA final the previous day.

No fewer than six teams posted 17-under totals of 125 in the team event so countback was required. Langdon was placed first followed by Melding and Paul Jones in the money-winning positions. Motley, Minchinhampton New pro Chris Steele and Licata missed out.

Bradley carded 141 but only won the women’s team event by two shots from Kelly Hanwell (Broadstone).