It is always a long trek to the Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club for the annual Medal and not one that too many of the professionals look forward to despite the excellent layout waiting at the other end, writes Andrew March. Much lift sharing is arranged and the bulk of the prize money went back to Gloucestershire in one single car. Cirencester’s Ed Goodwin is a lover of links golf and is rarely out of the upper echelons of a leaderboard at any of the Somerset Links venues on the rota. The Minehead leaderboard was no exception as he claimed his first solo victory of the season with a 2 under par round of 70 on a bitterly cold but dry and breezy day. He led home fellow Cheltenham resident and passenger for the day Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court) and Total Triumph Order of Merit Leader Giuseppe Licata by a stroke.

Goodwin opened with two downwind birdies but gave one back at the third. Par figures through the 10th saw him turn for home and back into the breeze at one under par. That status was quickly tripled with shots being picked up at the 11th and 14th holes after some excellent approach play.

The closing hole at Minehead is one of the toughest around and Goodwin’s tee shot at the long par 3 rebounded off the nearby clubhouse wall across the green. He failed to get up and down from its resting place but it mattered not as he still won by one on the day.

Langdon carded 5 birdies, all on par 4’s, in his round but a couple of lapses cost him a chance of victory.

The points he gained still moved him up the Total Triumph Order of Merit into fifth place but he failed to gain any points on the man they are all trying to catch.

Licata who will be taking up the Head Professional role at Filton Golf Club in early March posted 3 birdies in his round with frustratingly his two dropped shots both coming at par 5 holes. The result saw him re-establish a 24 point lead over George Ryall in the points table.

Enmore Park amateur Matt Kippen took 4th on level par 72 ahead of Ryall and Kevin Pitts who shared 5th on 74. For the popular Pitts it marked his best finish of the season so far as he makes a very welcome to the golf course alongside his fellow Professional’s after his recent health battles.