Mansell steps up title defence

Ashley Mansell boosted his chances of winning the PGA West Order of Merit for the second season running by finishing tied-fifth in the PGA Southern Open Championship @ Paultons.

The event was run in tandem with PGA South and staged at Paultons Golf Centre in Hampshire and was won by Richard Wallis from the host region with 44 Stableford points.

Mansell along with Jacob Hunter and James Dick finished four points behind and were the highest placed players from PGA West.

Each won £939 in prize money but were left to rue bogeys towards or at end of their rounds that proved costly.

Mansell, who represents Clevedon Golf Club, made a blistering start by recording four birdies in the first five holes. Four more birdies followed but these were tempered by as many bogeys, including one at the par-five 17^th.

Gloucester Golf Centre’s Dick also stumbled at the 17^th, recording a double bogey while Hunter from Broadstone Golf Club bogeyed the 18^th.

The pair, however, finished as the leading PGA Assistants in the event, each earning an additional £125 while the competition for Seniors also went to a player from the West –Michael Watson from Wessex Golf Centre.

Watson, who finished tied-22nd in the overall competition with 37 points, picked up £228 in prize money.

Meanwhile, Mansell, who trailed Order of Merit leader Enmore Park’s David Dixon by 145 points before the tournament, has reduced the deficit to 33 and lies second.

A full list of scores can be accessed here

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