LEE Thompson issued a warning to fellow West Region players after winning his fourth top prize inside a month in the Mitie Big Pro-Am at Bigbury, the first regional pro-am of the season.

“I started playing and practicing earlier this year and intend to travel further from home and play in more pro-ams this year as I feel in good form,” explained Thompson.

His three-under-par 67 brought a one-stroke advantage over Paul Hen-driksen (Dinnaton) and David Dixon (Enmore Park) in the £5,530 event sponsored by the strategic outsourcing and energy services company.

Thompson, 42, shot 67 at his home course Dudsbury and 66 at Salisbury to win Dorset and Wiltshire PGA medals and 62 at Ashley Wood in the Bournemouth Alliance.

The start to his round at Bigbury was little short of sensational as he posted a five-under-par front nine of 31. He took advantage of the three par fives when he chipped in for an eagle three at the fourth. He followed with routine birdies at the eighth and ninth following another at the sixth.

But the 230-yard par three downhill tenth hole cost a double bogey. His seven-iron tee-shot ended at the back of a bunker.

“I played a good shot from the sand but just failed to clear the top of the bank and faced an impossible chip so took five,” he said.

Thompson also led the TEC Con-struction team to victory in the team section on 12-under-par and pocketed more than £800 for his day’s work.

Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) and Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) returned level par 70 to share fifth place worth £224.

  •  Dorset’s two European Seniors Tour stars are part of the field at the inaugural Saunton Classic, which started today.

Kevin Spurgeon (Ferndown) and Gary Emerson (Remedy Oak) will tackle the East and West links courses in North Devon.

The two-day event will use a four-ball pro-am format and kicks off the six-leg PGA West Order of Merit.