Taverner and Moitas victorious

James Taverner (Hendon) and Miguel Moitas (Dukes Meadow) won the county honours in Middlesex with respective successes in the Professionals' Championship and Par-3 Championship.

Local knowledge proved to be the key factor with Taverner successful at his home club of Hendon and Moitas delivering a similar feat at Dukes Meadow where he is attached.

Taverner triumphed in tricky conditions, finishing on a four-over-par total of 144, one shot clear of Hendon PGA trainee Luke Goddard. Making it a Hendon one-two-three was the club's head PGA professional Matt Deal on 146.

Taverner's second round was something of a masterpiece as he defied a blustery wind to sign for a two-under 68.

It wasn't just the wind but also the cold that made low scoring a challenge in the Middlesex Par-3 Championship at Duke's Meadow.

Nevertheless Moitas was fast out of the blocks and shot three-under for his opening nine holes, three clear of fellow Duke's Meadow professional Brian Jackson.

The halfway bowl of soup warmed everyone but scoring was even tougher in the afternoon as the chill wind continued to play its part.

By the completion of the second round Moitas was the only player to break par on a minus-one total of 53, two ahead of Mark Bell (Dukes Meadow) with Jackson and Ricky Willison (Ealing) tied for third on 56.