CIRENCESTER golf pro Gareth Bennett maintained his challenge in the Total Triumph Order of Merit when the latest Gloucester and Somerset PGA Medal came to Naunton Downs last week.

Bennett shot a par round of 71 to give him joint second place with David Haines and Kevin Pitts as they trailed home professional Nick Ellis by three shots.

Ellis’s bogey-free three under par 68 was an excellent effort in testing conditions and provided him with his first ever medal victory in a G&S PGA event.

It was the first time the G&S PGA had come to Naunton Downs for a medal and Bennett clearly made good use of his practice round the previous day.

Senior Cirencester pro Ed Goodwin shot a respectable 73 for joint sixth despite nursing a chest infection.

Ross Langdon, despite a disappointing 76, still heads the Order of Merit but Giuseppe Licata (73) has closed the gap at the top to just over five points, while Bennett and Andrew March (72) also made significant moves on the day.