Lucky 13 for Watson

Thirteen was a lucky number for Michael Watson as he achieved his 13th win of a remarkable season beside the Somerset seaside in the charity pro-am at sunny Weston-super-Mare.

The Wessex Golf Centre player (above) held off a late challenge from former European Tour winner David Dixon (Enmore Park) after posting five-under-par 65 over the flat links lay-out where the natural sandy greens always make putting a pleasure.

He picked up shots at the first, third and eighth before further gains on the 10th, 13th and 15th. His only setback came at the final hole where he dropped his only shot.

Fortunately it did not matter as Dixon, who started sedately with 11 straight pars, could only manage four birdies on the homeward stretch on the 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th. The final birdie that would have brought a tie eluded him as he, too, dropped a shot at the 18th.

He still maintained a one-shot advantage over Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre), a player who is ending the season in style. He recovered from dropping a shot on the fourth with birdies at the 12th, 13th and 16th.

Andrew March, from nearby Brean on the North Somerset coast, finished on at one-under-par 69 to share fifth with Jon Langmead (Exminster) who made five birdies and dropped four shots.

Robin Goodey, the Chipping Sodbury secretary-manager, lost ground by making a double bogey six on the troublesome last to finish sixth. He was joined Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) produced a customary mixed bag, this time carding five birdies, three bogeys and one double at the par-three 14th.

Home assistant Nathan Bateman, who was playing his first competitive round this year, also claimed a share of sixth and had the distinction of making the day’s only eagle on the eighth hole.

Watson’s heroics also helped him lead home the winning team of Rob Price, Paul d'Arcy and Jim Walmsley on 15-under-par 125 followed by the Llanwern Golf Club team Rhys McDonagh, Lewis Evans and Nick Day led by Scott Hood on 129 with Goodwin’s Total Triumph team of Neil Mossman, Lee Ayres and Charlotte Bolton a further shot back in third.

Club captain Steve Corrick, who presented the prizes, was able to announce further substantial financial support from the day for the Children’s Hospice South West, the chosen charity.