New champions likely at Saunton

Four new champions could be crowned today as the West Region PGA Championship at Saunton reaches its climax following an opening day of surprises. 

Giuseppe Licata (Chipping Sodbury, pictured) and Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) lead on four-under-par 67.

In the women’s event Lydia Hall (Hensol Golf Academy) seems likely to follow her success as the first woman win the Welsh Professional title by displacing two-time champion Tracey Loveys (Bigbury).

Loveys is in a four-way tie for third five shots adrift. She leads Bristol’s Curtis Cup player Hannah Barwood (American Golf) by one shot.

Meanwhile, one-time Challenge Tour player Adam Frayne (Yelverton) and surprise packet Greg Davies (Basset Down Golf Course), who also carded a career-best two-under 69, lead the Assistants section. Defending champion Toby Hunt (St Mellons), seeking his third successive win, is eight shots behind.

Tom Jessamine (Woodbury Park) and Craig Melding (Neath) are just one shot behind and are poised to capitalise on any slip-up.

Gary Milne (Woodbury Park) holds a three-shot lead in the Seniors after an even par 71. Home professional Albert MacKenzie, the next PGA Cup team captain, is his closest rival followed one shot further away by new senior Andy Beal (Salisbury) and former Royal North Devon pro Iain Parker.

Frayne and Davies are joint fourth in the main event alongside Martin Stimson (Ashburnham) and Kevin Harper (East Devon).

Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court) has recently regained the form that brought success in the Dudsbury Masters and lies one shot off the lead.

He is perfectly placed to win a Play-Off place today and Hendriksen is now favourite to become Order of Merit champion for the first time.

Although eight players were in a position to take the three top places, joint leaders Liam Bond (St Pierre) and Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) are locked together in 40th place on four over par.  

European Tour player David Dixon (Enmore Park) rushed back from playing in the Czech Open but his hopes of improving his fourth spot in  the OOM were dashed by an opening hole double bogey which led to a  three-over-par 74.

Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) was the best placed of the other challengers on level par while Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) shot 73.

Gloucestershire pair Russell Berry (Broadway) and England Ian Brown (Newent) remain in contention in eighth after 70s.