Exciting season beckons in the West

The PGA in England and Wales (South West) include a number of new ventures in an exciting fixture list for 2018.

The season opens with an extended Titleist and Footjoy Sprint Series for assistants and young professionals under 30. This has been increased to five to provide an opportunity for players of the future to gain valuable competitive experience. The Series opens at Radyr  on April 5 and takes in Weston-super-Mare, Cumberwell Park, Minehead and Yelverton.

Four Order of Merit events offer Clevedon assistant Ashley Mansell the chance to defend the title he won last summer.

The first is the Total Triumph Classic which is being held for the tenth year at Oake Manor, near Taunton, where Sion Bebb will defend his title.

The Welshman from the Morlais Castle club used this success as a springboard to enjoy his most successful season for years. He also won the Welsh National championship which this year will be staged at Ashburnham. He was also one of three regional representatives at the play-offs. Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) was the third.

Mark Searle from High Post defends the Players Championship at the end of July at Cumberwell Park. Mansell is the holder of the West Region Championship which returns to the Players Club, near Bristol, from August 13-15.

Katie Rule (Mullion) is the women's champion while Martin Stimson (Ashburnham) holds the seniors' title.

The season ends again at the impressive Cornish coastal course The Point at Polzeath in September where the OOM will be decided.

The summer starts as usual with the Asbri Golf Cornish Festival at Trevose, St Enodoc and Carlyon Bay on April 17-19. It finishes with the North Devon Links Festival at Saunton and Royal North Devon on October 1-3.

Two new events in Wales are at Swansea Bay and Raglan Park. New pro-ams have also been arranged at Tidworth Garrison, Ashley Wood  and Mendip Spring which holds a charity event in aid of the PGA Benevolent fund in September. Broadstone, Sherborne and Vivary Park return to the list.

Burnham and Berrow host three national events. The new English PGA Championship is held on June 27-29. The Titleist and Footjoy Professional championship qualifier and one of the two West qualifiers for the Lombard trophy are also at the Somerset links. The other is at Royal North Devon.

Chipping Sodbury, Bristol and Clifton and Mendip Spring also stage qualifiers.

Robert Moss, regional secretary, said: "We have arranged another exciting season of playing opportunities and are hopeful of adding to the list."