Third strokeplay title for in-form Dixon

Enmore Park’s David Dixon won his third Total triumph Strokeplay title in style at Henbury Golf Club with a record breaking return.

An afternoon round of seven-under-par 62 following 71 in steady rain for a five-under-par return of 133 was the lowest recorded in the long running event.

This brought a two stroke advantage over home assistant Luke Derrick who was the only player in the field to beat par in both rounds as he opened with 68 and added 67.

Dixon followed up his previous wins in 2004 and 2013 with a second round that included only threes and fours. This featured seven consecutive threes from the seventh hole.

Derrick played some superb golf and his two rounds included four birdies on the short holes. He shared the lunchtime lead with Clevedon’s Ashley Mansell with James Hannam (Bath) one stroke further back on 69.

Mansell carded six birdies after lunch but dropped just as many to claim third spot. Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) bettered par by one to share fourth with Hannam.

Filton’s Giuseppe Licata defied a troublesome neck injury to finish sixth with rounds of 70 and 69. Lee Corfield (Burnham and Berrow) and Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court) shared seventh on 141 whilst George Ryall (Mendip Spring) took the final prize money on 142 in ninth.

After holding a comfortable lead for the last few weeks Goodwin was crowned the Total Triumph Order of Merit Champion to take the award for the second time.

He will be joined by runner-up Ryall as the Gloucester and Somerset PGA representatives in the PGA County Championship Finals later in the year at The Belfry. Defending Champion Giuseppe Licata ended his quest for a third consecutive title in third place.

Derrick was fourth and Langdon fifth. The final destination of the prizemoney was in the balance right up until the final hole of the before chairman Andrew March edged out Daryl Kelley (The Bristol). Corfield was the leading trainee.

The leading 16 available players also qualify to play in the Courage Matchplay at Chipping Sodbury in September which kicks off the 2019/20 Winter season once again.

Captain Paul Gravell hopes to regain the Haines Cup after two years and is finalising his team to take on Devon PGA on Monday 13th May at his home club, The Players Club.