Thompson and Wiggett lead local challenge at Dudsbury

Home favourites Lee Thompson and Mark Wiggett are among more than 20 leading Dorset professionals contesting the Dudsbury Masters next week.

Thompson claimed the title two years ago and was beaten in a play-off by Matt Dearden (Cardiff) in 2011. He also won the BMW Classic twice at the Bournemouth course, following Wiggett’s success in 2001.

Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest), Martyn Thompson (Parkstone), Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre, Weymouth) and Jon Bevan (Sherborne) are other Order of Merit tournament winners among other local contenders.

The second of five regional PGA OOM tournaments is staged at the Longham course on June 29-30 preceded by a gala pro-am on Wednesday.

Former European Tour player Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle), who won the opening Total Triumph Classic earlier this month, leads the Welsh challenge.

Ladies European Tour player Lydia Hall (Hensol Golf Academy, Cardiff) and Somerset’s emerging star Ashley Mansell (Clevedon), who lost to Bebb in a three-way play-off at Oake Manor, are also in a strong field.

Former European Seniors Tour winners Kevin Spurgeon (Ferndown) and George Ryall (Burnham & Berrow) as well as 2004 PGA champion Scott Drummond bring further glister to the field.

Another ex-European Tour player Liam Bond, the winner of last year’s OOM, makes his first OOM appearance this season before opening his Liam Bond Golf Academy in the Forest of Dean on July 2.

Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) won his first OOM event at Dudsbury in 2013. Since then his career has taken off. He won the national PGA Championship, was a member of the Bevan-led PGA Cup winning team against the United States in California and made his debut in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last month.

West secretary Robert Moss expects a close contest. He said: “Although the established players start as favourites, there are some outstanding young professionals just waiting for their chance to take over.

“The Dudsbury course is in outstanding condition so we can expect low scoring from a quality field of both young and experienced players.”

The OOM season continues with The Players Championship at Cumberwell Park on July 25-26, the West Region Championship at Burnham & Berrow on August 8-9 and the OOM Finale at The Point at Polzeath on October 4-5.