Maiden win for Keitch

James Keitch recorded his first victory as a professional in the final individual Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal of the year at Worlebury Golf Club in Weston-super-Mare.

The former Taunton Vale assistant matched the par of 70 on a blustery day to beat Kevin Pitts (Mendip) by one shot on the PGA’s first visit to the course.

It was also the first time many of the 23 players had visited the course perched high above the town that provides a demanding finish where the final five holes seldom yield birdies or even pars.

It has been a difficult time for the Keitch family of professionals as Taunton Vale Golf Club has just closed for the final time.

James, 21, the youngest of the professional trio headed by father Martin and including elder brother Dan, grew up and worked there under his father. They are now seeking new roles within the game.

But Keitch put these issues to one side as he recovered from a double bogey at his opening hole and a dropped shot at the sixth.  

He reeled off six birdies in eight holes at the eighth, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 15th. So he headed to the 16th tee at two-under- par but the difficult closing holes claimed back two shots.

Pitts would have shared top spot but dropped a shot at the demanding uphill final hole which was almost out of reach in regulation into the wind. He picked up birdies at the fourth, seventh and 11th but a double bogey at the par-five ninth set him back. He also collected the Over 40’s sweep.

Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre) and Ed Goodwin (Cirencester), the leading duo in the Total Triumph Order of Merit, tied for third with Ashley Mansell (Clevedon), Scott Thompson (Mendip Spring) and David Dixon (Enmore Park) on 72.

Goodwin typically carded six birdies to share the birdie sweep with Keitch.