WEST REGION PGA Captain Ed Goodwin headed a strong showing by home professionals in the penultimate 18-hole Gloucestershire & Somerset PGA Medal of the season at Cirencester Golf Club.

He shot a two under par 70 to take victory by a couple of shots ahead of his assistant Gareth Bennett and Hambrook’s Giuseppe Licata.

All the heavy showers managed to avoid the course during the time in which the 23-strong field plotted their way around. The sun shone and only a light breeze faced the players on the superbly prepared course.

Things started slowly for Goodwin as he dropped shots at the opening two holes before only managing a par at the downhill, downwind par 5 third hole. From that point onwards, though, he produced some excellent golf, posting four birdies on his way to a winning score.

The first of that quartet came at the difficult fourth hole before another at the eighth saw him turn at level par. Coming home, the 12th hole was the first hole where he gained a shot on the course before the driveable par 4 16th succumbed for his final birdie of the round.

Ed’s win, his second of the season, moves him back into sixth spot in the Total Triumph Order of Merit but he may surrender this position before the Championship as he misses the final Medal of the season due to commitments abroad.

Second position was shared on level par by Licata and Bennett. Both of their cards showed three birdies and three bogeys as they consolidated their spots in the top four of the Order of Merit.

They still sit behind leader Ross Langdon and second-placed Andrew March but closed the points gap meaning the exact finishing positions are still undecided.

Four pros tied for sixth on 73 and this included another home player in Ryan Dix as he looks to secure a spot in the Wormald and Partners Matchplay Championship field at the end of the season.