Thompson top for the first time

Mendip Spring’s Scott Thompson claimed top spot for his first win as a professional in the Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal at Brean Golf Club.

On a tough day in a strong breeze with some tough pin positions Thompson’s three-over-par 73 brought a one shot advantage over Weston-super-Mare assistant Dan Toogood.

Thompson made a double bogey start after flying his approach shot straight over the green into some thick rough. He also dropped another stroke at the short par four third but he felt more comfortable while picking up shots at the fourth and eighth.

A bogey at the 11th was immediately repaired by his third and final birdie at the 12th before dropping further shots at the 14th and 15th.

Toogood, who went one better than his third place at Mendip Spring the previous week, also struggled on the opening stretch before rallying well on the back nine helped by a couple of birdies around the turn.

Newcomer this season left-hander David Williams from Knowle took third place. He ended with two bogeys for 75.

Former Brean professional David Haines (Burnham and Berrow), Kevin Pitts (Mendip) and the experienced Lawrence Farmer, formerly of Moor Park, who has retired to Somerset shared fourth on 76.  Haines and Pitts shared the Over 40’s sweep whilst David Morris (Forest of Dean) took the birdie sweep with four.