Thompson is on a roll

Lee Thompson continued in devastating form to collect his fourth successive pro-am win at Salisbury and South Wilts.

The Dudsbury professional, who has cut back on his schedule this summer, has banked £3,650 from five outings in three weeks from previous pro-am wins at Sherborne, Woodbury Park, Remedy Oak and a third place in the Cumberwell Park Players Championship which took him to the top of the Order of Merit alongside Liam Bond (St Pierre).

Two concentrated sessions with his coach Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) last month helped him regain his focus. Greater control on the greens to support inch-accuracy iron play is reaping rich rewards.

Yet he started indifferently at Salisbury with dropped shots at the opening two holes. He worked his way back to level par but then finished with five successive birdies to post five-under 66.

Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge), the other outstanding West player who made a valiant attempt to retain his PGA Professional Championship in his previous event at The Oxfordshire, finishing third, finished one shot back. He also bogeyed the first two holes but made the day’s best seven birdies and dropped only one further shot at the 12th.

Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) matched this score but his best run came at the start.

He threatened to run away with the day following birdies at the second, third, seventh and eighth.  He made another at the 13th after dropping his only shot at the par five tenth.

Former West Region champion Ian Brown (Newent), who is making a comeback this year, returned his best score so far. Two under 69 brought a share of fourth with Dan Carter (Upavon), Ashley Mansell (Clevedon) and Chris Tyrrell (Moors Valley Golf Centre) who also produced a five-birdie run, from the tenth.

Andy Beal, who became secretary at Salisbury & South Wilts this year after a distinguished career playing all over Europe, made his first appearance of the season. After working hard to organise his first pro-am he dusted down his clubs to shoot a creditable 69 and become the fifth player in fourth spot.

He was delighted when one of his younger members Steve Inder aced the final hole using a 5-iron. There were prizes for all holes in one, the most difficult 16th offering £5,000 for both pros and amateurs. Inder’s prize was a two-night trip for four to the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel, a former European Tour venue.

Hendriksen led the City Plumbing team of Justin Safe, Neil Inder and Tom Stagg to success on 13-under 129. Ceramic Specialist Ltd - Rod Johnson, Roger Whitmore and Bryan Jennick led by Mansell -followed on 131.

Cornish Team Bowood headed by Adam Curtis (Bude), with established county regular Josh Greenaway, Tom Haley and Howard Smith, took third on countback from Watson’s City Carpets team, also on countback.