Licata sparkles at Minch

Giuseppe Licata started the New Year in superb form by taking a five-shot win in the first Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal of 2014.

Starting his round with six successive birdies, the Bristol Golf Centre man left Filton’s Daryl Kelley and Enmore Park’s David Dixon trailing, eventually carding a nine-under-par round of 62 at the Minchinhampton Old Course.

After two pars he made another birdie at the ninth to turn in just 30 strokes. He then picked up shots at the par-five 12^th, the treacherous par-three 16^th and the short par-four 17^th to stand on the final tee at 10-under-par.

But his round ended with a tinge of disappointment as he made his only bogey of the day with his only five of the day. It didn’t matter as he not only collected the winner’s prize but also the birdie sweep.

It made for a profitable opening day for a player bidding to add the Total Triumph Order of Merit to the strokeplay and matchplay titles he holds already.

After the appalling weather over the festive period, a dry and relatively calm day for the annual medal was a welcome bonus, although some later starters suffered a shower on the closing holes. All in all though, it was a good day for scoring.

G&S captain Kelley, who usually enjoys his trips to the old course, carded 67 for his best finish of the season. An opening birdie was followed by a succession of pars until he birdied the 11^th and 12^th.

After his only bogey at the 15^th he gathered further birdies at 16 and 17. Dixon matched the score with a bogey-free card. He gained shots at the first, seventh, 12^th and at the 18^th with a long putt.

Somerset amateur Johnny Grace (Saltford) was fourth on with 69 followed one shot behind by Paul Barrington (Players Club) and Ed Goodwin (Cirencester). Barrington collected the sweep as the leading over-40 player.