By Pete Godsiff

Local players dominated the team event in the Carlsberg-sponsored Minchinhampton Old course pro-am which attracted a record 55 teams on Friday.

Ladies European Tour player Lydia Hall (Hensol Golf Academy) was the star in the women’s contest which ran alongside the main event on her first visit to the course. The Cardiff-based Welsh Professional and West Region women’s champion returned 75 to finish six shots clear of Claire Duffy who has just joined Hampshire club Bramshaw. Jamie-Lee Casling (Cotswold Hills) was third on 84.

Hall, aged 29, led a team of former Minchinhampton Old players, Sandy Elwig, Kerry Dangerfield and Sally Norman, to victory in the team event. They carded four-under-par 138, beating Duffy’s team by 11 shots.

Tom Motley, the South Cerney professional, led his Turmec Engineering team to success in the main event. He was assisted by Ed Dodd, Brian Thornton and Steve Burns in compiling 15-under-par 127.

Former European Tour winner David Dixon from Somerset club Enmore Park won the individual with a two-under-par round of 69 and helped the Minchinhampton New Course team of Ross Hopkins, Gareth Hopkins and Robert Fynn claim second spot on 130.

Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court) headed the Versatile Controls trio of John Slim, Will Slim and Ryan Gaskin into third place one shot behind.

Dixon called on all his experience of playing in strong winds and chilly weather to come top. His 69 was the highest winning score within living memory. This was because the conditions were described as “brutal” by tournament controller Tom Sheffield on the course golfers share with livestock in the Gloucestershire countryside.

He added: “The course was firm and bouncy as a result of two months without any decent rain and it was difficult to hit and hold the small greens.”

Dixon went out in three-under 34 with birdies at the first, fifth and ninth, made another on the 13th and dropped shots at the 11th and 18th.

Winning PGA Cup captain Jon Bevan (Sherborne) shared second with Langdon. They were one shot behind as the only other players to better par.

Henry Pallas (Upavon) was four under par after six holes but shared fourth on level par 71 after taking seven at the par four 13th. Motley produced one of his best rounds helped by three birdies in the first six holes. Veteran Dorset player Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) also came home in par making three birdies and three bogeys.

Pro individual scores: 69 David Dixon (Enmore Park), £1,000, 70 Jon Bevan (Sherborne), Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court) £700 each , 71 Tom Motley (South Cerney), Henry Pallas (Upavon), Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) £413 each, 72 Brian Lee (Parc/Asbri Golf), Mark Searle (High Post), Ashley Mansell (Clevedon), Chris Gill (Newquay), Nick Haile (Minchinhampton New), £250 each, 73 Gareth Bennett (Wales), Stuart Little (Minchinhampton New), Ian Brown (Newent), Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle), Toby Hunt (St Mellons), Ross Whitelock (St Mellion) £165 each.

Selected: 74 Ed Goodwin (Cirencester), Russell Berry (Broadway), David Finch (Cleeve Hill) £122 each.