WESSEX Golf Centre's Michael Watson forms part of a strong field for the PGA West Region title in Bristol today.

Sherborne-based Jon Bevan will also contest the seniors' title.

Order of Merit leader Sion Bebb will aims to add the PGA West title to his list of successes before defending his Welsh National Championship at Ashburnham later this month.

Bebb won the Players Championship at Cumberwell Park this month and is one of the favourites over 36 holes at The Players Club.

The Morlais Castle club professional, who celebrated his latest success by taking his family on holiday to Tenby, won the OOM 17 years ago but has never clinched the long-established championship which was first held in 1920.

The winners of the Lidgerwood Trophy read like a who's who of West Country golf stars, among them former Open champions Reg Whitcombe, Max Faulkner and Alf Perry as well as 14 Ryder Cup players, including Peter Alliss, Bernard Hunt, Gordon Brand Jnr and Phillip Price.

Bebb is keen to make a further start in a European Tour event, even though he will be 50 in October. He would have a chance if he becomes one of the three leading three players who qualify for the PGA Play-Offs in Turkey.

“It would be a dream for me,” he said. “But I am really considering trying to qualify for the Seniors Tour this winter as a priority.”

Many leading Wales and West players will be chasing points in the penultimate qualifier. Everything will be finalised after the final stage at The Point at Polzeath next month.

The runner-up at Cumberwell Park, David Dixon (Enmore Park), is on top form and lies second. Other serious challengers are Tony Hunt (St Mellons), OOM champion Ashley Mansell (Clevedon) and former Tour player Stuart Little (Minchinhampton) who fill the next three spots.

But former Europro champion Kevin Harper (East Devon), Watson, the consistent Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) and exciting Welshman Craig Melding (Neath) are lurking close by. So are Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew), Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) and Chris Gill (Newquay).

There will be an intriguing battle for the Women’s trophy, probably between youthful Jessica Bradley (Tiverton) and seasoned former champion Tracy Loveys (Bigbury).

Lee Corfield (Burnham and Berrow) won the National Assistants’ title so is a clear favourite to add the West crown as well.

There will be another exciting contest to determine the seniors’ champion. Last year’s winner Martin Stimson (Ashburnham) faces stiff opposition from Little, former PGA Cup captain Bevan, European Seniors’ Tour winner George Ryall (Worlebury), Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) and past winner Kelvin Aitken (Chippenham Golf Centre).