Licata on Triumph trail again

Giuseppe Licata made the perfect debut in this season Gloucester and Somerset PGA Winter Series with a two-shot victory at Knowle.

The Chipping Sodbury teaching professional started the defence of his Total Triumph Order of Merit title with a faultless four-under-par 66. Birdies on the three par fives and another with a three at the fifth produced a card of threes and fours.

On a perfect morning for golf Filton’s Daryl Kelley recorded the shot of the day with an ace at the eighth. Although he only just made his tee time because of traffic delays he added three further birdies.

He tied second on 68 with the prolific George Ryall (Worlebury) who bogeyed the first hole before he collected three birdies.

Cirencester’s Ed Goodwin was the only other player to break par by recovering to save par at the home hole despite losing a ball off the tee.

Home professional Mark Sanders, competing for only the second time in more than a year, Henbury’s Luke Derrick and Cirencester assistant Mitch Caunt tied for fifth with par rounds of 69.

Somerset county amateur Will Poole used knowledge of his home Mendip Spring course to win the next medal with a bogey-free round of 66, including five birdies. Licata was the leading professional one shot behind.

Enmore Park’s David Dixon 68, Ryall 69 and Lee Corfield (Burnham & Berrow) 70 were the other players top better par. Henbury teaching pro Michael Hunt was level to take sixth spot.