No stopping in-form Licata

Giuseppe Licata continued to be the player to beat after racking up his fourth win of the Gloucester and Somerset PGA winter season.

The Bristol Golf Centre professional covered the shortened layout of 16 holes at Weston-super-Mare in three-under-par 59, the fifth and sixth holes being closed.

He extended his lead in the Total Triumph Order of Merit to close on 60 points at the start of the second half of the season.

The Weston event marked the end of the Somerset Links ‘swing’ during January and for once a calm and dry day greeted the large field. It was however possibly the coldest event of the generally mild winter so far. Some bunkers were taken out of play due to flooding but otherwise the course presented its usual test.

Licata picked up shots the first and seventh but gave them back at the third and ninth to turn at level par. He then added two further birdies and an eagle at the par five 13th only offset by a dropped shot at the 11th. He also claimed the birdie sweep money.

He was pursued by Somerset amateur Matt Kippen (Enmore Park) who finished one shot behind.

Taunton Vale head pro Martin Keitch and former Bristol & Clifton assistant Ian Davison shot 61 to tie for third.  It was Keitch’s best ever finish in a G&S event as he created a healthy gap ahead of his two sons, James and Dan, in the Order or Merit. He was also the leading player in the Over 40’s sweep.

Irishman Davison, who has recently returned to the UK from Canada, recorded five birdies but he left to rue a triple bogey seven at the 15th.

Knowle’s Nigel Warburton made a closing bogey to share fifth with Chipping Sodbury’s Robin Goodey and G&S chairman Andrew March who spoilt his round with a six at the 18th after experiencing some bunker trouble.