Third matchplay title for Licata
21/09/2015
Bristol Golf Centre’s Giuseppe Licata defeated debutant Ashley Mansell from Clevedon 2 and 1 in the final to win his third Gloucester and Somerset Matchplay title at Chipping Sodbury.
The top seed and favourite for the Marston’s Brewery-sponsored event climaxed his superb finish to the season following a quiet spell.
“I certainly wasn’t the favourite the way I have been playing,” he said, despite having won a play-off at Mendip Spring to take Gloucestershire and Somerset into the PGA County Finals earlier in the week.
Licata, who was successful at the same course two years ago, started with a 3 and 2 win over Tom Duke (Filton). All first round matches played by the leading 16 players in the two counties from the Total Triumph Order of Merit, were won by the top eight seeded players for the first time in many years.
David Haines (Burnham and Berrow) beat James Keitch (Wells) 2/1, Andrew March (Brean) defeated Tom Hiscock (Henbury) 2/1 and Nick Ellis (Naunton Downs) beat Paul Gravell (Players Club) 4/2 in the top half of the draw.
Three time former champion Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) enjoyed the biggest win of the morning as he dispatched Thornbury assistant Louis O’Regan 5/4.
Home player Robin Goodey overcame Kevin Pitts (The Mendip) by one hole and George Ryall (Players) beat defending champion Daryl Kelley (Filton) by the same margin before Mansell ousted Peter Garratt (Naunton Downs) 5/3.
In the opening quarter final Licata put out Haines by 3/2. Ellis found water at the 18th and lost by one hole to March. By making a birdie from the trees at the 16th Goodwin beat Goodey 2/1.
The final dramatic match it was a case of pupil beating master as coach Ryall succumbed to his protégé Mansell who chipped in twice over the last three holes.
Mansell holed out for a birdie at the 16th to move dormie two up.
But veteran Ryall never gives up and responded with a birdie at the penultimate hole to take the game to the last where Mansell chipped in again for a winning eagle.
Mansell followed with a 2 and 1 semi-final win over Goodwin while Licata beat March 3 and 1.
After beating O’Regan in the semi-final Kelley won the Plate final with a 2 and 1 success over Hiscock who eliminated Keitch in the semi.
