Day comes out of brother's shadow to take medal

MIKE Day has spent his golfing life overshadowed by his elder brother Nick, but fortunes were reversed in the Knowle Gold Medal on Sunday when he won his first Duchess Salver Gloucestershire order of merit tournament.

He had to work hard for his success as it took a marathon play-off against home favourite Sam Morgan before the result was settled.

The pair tied on a 36-hole total of 137 and could not be separated in the four-hole play-off held over holes ten to 13.

They returned to the par-three tenth in front of the clubhouse and this time Morgan recorded a bogey to leave Day as the winner.

The most astonishing performance of the event came from Matt Basey (Kendleshire).

After shooting an 84 in the morning – only two of the 64 players returned higher scores – he recovered to take the afternoon's gross prize with a best-of-the-round 68.

Andy Rudge (Bristol and Clifton) took the morning honours with a round of 67.

Knowle Gold Medal –leading scores: 137 Mike Day (Henbury) 67, 70 Sam Morgan (Knowle) 67, 70, 140 Ian Wilkie (Thornbury) 70, 70, 141 Nigel Thompson (Brickhampton Court) 69, 71, Paul Garland (Lansdown) 72, 69, Alex Palomeque (Kendleshire) 69, 72, Brad Selwood (Knowle) 70, 71, Tom Workman (Stinchcombe) 71, 70.

Nett: 138 Darren Robison (Cirencester) 69, 65, Will Smith (Kendleshire) 70, 68.

Workman continues to lead the Gloucestershire Order of Merit ranking in the Duchess Salver with 165 points.

He is followed by: 122 Tyler Hogarty (Rodway Hill), 121 Nick Day (Henbury), 115 Charlie McLean (Brickhampton Court), Morgan 111 Laurie Potter (Minchinhampton), 109 Jamie Dick (Forest Hills), 106 Michael Day (Henbury), 103 Garland, 100 Andy Hale (Chipping Sodbury).

The final events are the City and County, at Henbury, on Sunday, September 2, the Cotswold Trophy, at Chipping Sodbury, on Sunday, September 30 and the Failand Cup, at Bristol & Clifton, which has been rearranged for Saturday, October 13.