Wonder Watson so close to 59

Player-of-the-season Michael Watson took a step nearer claiming the Order of Merit title by taking a four-stroke halfway lead in the Forest Classic, the penultimate event in this season’s programme.

The Wessex Golf Centre player scorched round the Bells Hotel Forest of Dean Golf Club course in nine-under-par 60. He made 11 birdies, just five pars and even dropped two shots as he searched for his first magical “59”.

He played each half of the 5,925-yard course in 30 strokes with five birdies in his opening eight holes and six on the way home with bogeys at the fifth and 12^th.

He leads Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew) and the promising young Dan Carter (Upavon). Welsh-based trio Joe Ferguson (Celtic Manor), James Lee ( Caerphilly) and Cennydd Mills  (Pyle and Kenfig), plus defending champion David Dixon (Enmore Park) and last year’s West Region PGA champion James Ruth (China Fleet), lie a further shot back.

The 36-hole event concludes today at the Forest Hills course, just a mile away on the other side of the town of Coleford.