No sweat for Mansell at Taunton

Ashley Mansell ended a barren spell by winning both the individual and team prizes in the Taunton and Pickeridge pro-am played in sizzling temperatures.

The current Order of Merit champion from Clevedon shot seven-under-par 62 to equal his low round of the season, made in the Total Triumph Classic at Oake Manor, for a four-shot victory over Toby Hunt (St Mellons). 

Mansell, 27, said: “Everything came together for the first time in about three months. I have played on the Europro Tour, in regional events and once on the Challenge Tour in Portugal. Now things have fallen into place I am looking forward to a very busy six-week stretch.

“I have three Europro events and two Order of Merits and hopefully cam keep this form – and putting – going.”

He made nine threes and a two over the Somerset lay-out. His round contained six birdies and an eagle three on the fifth when he chipped in following his only bogey when he failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker. 

Birdies at three of the next four holes took him out in five-under-par 30 and he returned in 32 with two further birdies.

Hunt dropped three shots on the first two holes but finished with a flourish when he holed his second shot at the last for a rare eagle to add to his five birdies.

Despite both taking sevens at the par five ninth Dan Carter (Upavon) and James Ruth (China Fleet) were able to join David Dixon (Enmore Park) in third place on 67.

National assistants’ champion Lee Corfield (Burnham & Berrow), Craig Melding (Neath), Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle), Barry Austin (Downes Crediton) and Jon Bevan (Sherborne) followed on 68.

Mansell made it a double by leading the winning team of Andy Rhodes, John Ford and Rob Darvell on 21-under-par 117. Oake Manor’s left-hander Matthew Turner was runner up on 121 with Jamie Short, Josh Martin and Owen Irish.  George Ryall (Worlebury) made it a Somerset treble one shot back in third with Steve Coomber, Chris Pitman and Kelvin Oxley.