MICHAEL Watson’s relentless stranglehold on the top of the PGA West Region money list continued with his seventh victory of the season at Broadstone.

He profited from the sunny conditions and was the only player to better par when slick greens, searching pin positions and knee-high rough put the onus on patience and accuracy.

The Wessex Golf Centre player made birdies at the third, fifth and tenth and dropped his only shot at the par-three eighth during a largely uneventful round of two-under-par 68.

European Seniors Tour winner Kevin Spurgeon (Ferndown) took advantage of a break from the tour to gain useful practice and finish second on level-par 70, boosted by an eagle three at the first and birdies at 12 and 15.

Home professional Neil Rowlands, who has won more than 40 tournaments during a career on the Challenge and Europro Tours and in the South and Midland regions, finished in a five-way tie for third in his first West Region pro-am that was sponsored by Poole Audi.

* WEST Region Assistants champion Fern Grimshaw continued her most successful season as a professional by sharing top place in the Farrington pro-am in Somerset with late starter Giuseppe Licata.


Her first pro-am success was founded on a remarkable spurt over the closing eight holes in which the Wessex Golf Centre ace made five birdies, including three in a row from the 11th and then at the 15th and 16th.


“I hope this win will be the first of many,” she said. “I played well and enjoyed the course that was in tremendous condition after the terrible recent weather.”


It was the 25-year-old newly-qualified professional’s fourth win of the summer. She shared first place in the Minchinhampton Ladies event, also won a WPGA tournament at Chestfield before her greatest success in the Assistants’ event at Sherborne.


An outright victory in the pro-am sponsored by Natures Flame looked probable until Licata matched the two-under-par 70 in the penultimate group.


The Bristol Golf Centre player held a one-shot lead until he dropped a shot at the 16th and missed a five-foot putt for birdie at the 17th.