Louis is the boss at Knowle

Louis Boston shrugged aside the discomfort of a recently dislocated thumb to make a winning start to the Gloucester and Somerset PGA Winter medal season with a three-under par 67 at Knowle.

Boston, who started his professional career less than a year ago at Windmill Hill in Bristol, has just switched across the city to teach at Stockwood Vale with Mark Sanders.

He beat Will Hobbs (Mendip Spring) by one shot in temperatures in the mid 20’s. 

Such is the popularity of the events now offered by the dual county PGA the opening event attracted a full field. 

With very little breeze, birdies flowed but the penalty for missing the tree-lined fairways and some tricky flag positions caused dropped shots.

Early starter Boston made birdies at the second, fifth and ninth and 13th. Then he took his total to six with two more to finish his round, a three at 17 courtesy of a 40ft putt. He dropped shots at the fourth, eighth and 14th when a wayward tee shot found the trees.

Hobbs produced his best  result since turning professional, making birdies at the second, fourth, 11th and 15th, dropping shots on the sixth and eighth.

G&S PGA chairman Andrew March (Brean) was one of three players to share third on 69.

It was not really a surprise that he enjoyed his best result for a while as he won the last two medals played at the course in South Bristol.

He was joined by Luke Collins (Tall Pines) who posted six birdies to claim a share of the birdie sweep with Boston. G&S PGA captain Robin Goodey (Chipping Sodbury) added 69 playing in the final group. Ashley Mansell (Clevedon) was sixth on 71 to claim the final cheque.