Watson keeps on winning

Michael Watson’s remarkable run of success continued at Vivary Park where a three-under-par 62 brought his 10th victory of the season, his ninth in his last 17 outings.

The prolific Wessex Golf Centre winner made 10threes over the short but tricky municipal course at Taunton, starting with a two at the 221-yard opener and adding five fours and two fives – the second at the 15th costing his only bogey.

“My iron play was really hot and I knocked it close most of the time,” he said after beating Ian Brown (Newent) by one shot.

Former West PGA champion Brown, who started the season by playing two events in Scotland, produced his best round of the year.

Lee Thompson (Dudsbury), Cennydd Mills (Pyle & Kenfig) and Richard O'Hanlon  (St Kew) were the only other players to break par and shared third on 64, one better than Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury). James Pickard (Honiton), David Dixon (Enmore Park) and Alistair Welsher (Tiverton) were joint seventh on 66.

Dixon recovered from a horrendous start when he dropped four shots in the first four holes. His round was boosted by five birdies and these also helped his team take first place on 18-under-par. O'Hanlon missed out in countback while Gareth Bennett (Cottrell Park) was third four strokes behind.