Watson survives scares to win Forest Classic

Player-of-the-year and Order of Merit champion elect Michael Watson overcame several spirited challenges and a moment of doubt to win the Forest Classic for his second OOM tournament of the season.

It may not have been the walk in the park many envisaged following his nine-under-par 60 in the opening round at Bells Hotel Forest of Dean. His remarkable score bettered by two shots the course record set by Morlais Castle’s Sion Bebb in the pro-am last year.

But the winner of the Dudsbury Masters this month eventually triumphed by three strokes. He landed two steadying birdies in the final two holes after momentary scares during a second round two-under-par 70 at Forest Hills.

His overnight four-shot lead evaporated to just one when his tigerish playing partner Dan Carter (Upavon) rolled in a birdie at the par three 14th.

With the experienced former European Tour player Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) posting the day’s best return of six-under-par 65 to lead on eight-under the Wessex Golf Centre player’s lead was insecure.

Another former Tour man David Dixon (Enmore Park) and the consistent Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew) also threatened until they were destined to share fourth after late errors.

Watson, 44, who won for the seventh time in a golden July, said: “I thought that if I broke par today I would be all right.

“I didn’t putt as well as I did on the first day when it looked as if I could make 59 until I overshot the final green when I needed to make my 12th birdie.

“I had a shaky time today when I put my ball in the water at 11 and three-putted 12 to go back to level for the day. Dan was playing so nicely alongside me my lead soon became only one. I thought at the time it was going to be a battle between the two of us.

“But I played the last few holes well. I made four at the par five 15th, followed with a 12-footer at the next and almost made birdies at the last two as well.”

It was 27-year-old Carter’s best OOM finish and he came close with a 12-foot birdie putt on the last that would have brought outright second.

“Three successive birdies from the ninth put me in with a chance before I three-putted 12 for my only bogey,” said last year’s Titleist-Footjoy Assistants order of merit winner.

Left-hander Little, who was third in the opening event at Saunton, made eight birdies and dropped one shot in an outstanding round. “I holed all the chances I created,” he said. “I thought I had a chance because it’s not an easy finish here with holes that can come back and bite you.”

Watson also won the better-ball with 16-year-old Chepstow schoolboy Dan Maller who was enlisted just before the first round.

Watson’s regular partner was ill so tournament controller Tom Sheffield invited the seven-handicapper, who is a member of both courses, to step in.

They carded 93 points to win by four from Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy) and his father John, and Carter playing with 13-handicapper Karim Kabbara. 

Watson extended his lead in the OOM with only the Marstons West Region PGA Championship to play next month. Leading positions: Watson 983, Dinsdale 855, Dixon 850, O'Hanlon 735, Cennydd Mills (Pyle & Kenfig) 667, Little 662, Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) 622.