Daniel Clark aced one of the toughest holes in Highcliffe Castle Centenary Pro Am to earn a share of top place for the first time in a regional event.

The professional at Playgolf, Bournemouth, at Christchurch sunk his tee-shot at the 242-yards 12th holes on his way to a two-under-par 62 in the first pro-am held over the 4,798-yard course.

The club captain John Saunders acknowledged his achievement by handing him a bottle of champagne at the presentation. He could have won outright for he was three-under-par standing on the 16th tee. But he made bogey, followed with a birdie but then dropped another shot at the last.

So he joined the phenomenal Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) and Paul Jones (Canford Magna) at the top. Watson’s fourth win in eight days took his winnings for the period to £2,430. He signed for 11 threes and dropped one shot at the 14th.

Jones, another player in form, relinquished shots at the second, tenth and 15th but responded with six threes and three twos.

Just to prove that eve n the shortest of courses pose many problems, fourth place was shared by James Wilson (Dudsbury), Russell Berry (RB Golf Range) and Danny White (Players Club) on one over 65, three shots behind the winners.

Former Thurlestone pro Anthony Buchanan (Tower Links) led Tom Riley, Alex Kerr and Simon Watson to success in the team section on 114 followed on 115 by Wilson-led Paul Gough, Keith Gough and Paul Bondvve with Clark taking third spot on 118 helped by Peter Brickell, Bob Ashley and Mike Jordan.

Bournemouth Alliance player Watson simply cannot fail in the sunshine as he has finished top in four of his last five outings since sharing top spot with Cornish-based Richard O’Hanlon in the Rotary Club of St Austell pro-am at Carlyon Bay with five-under-par returns of 67.

Watson was in spectacular form at the cliff top seaside course, making eagles at the fourth and 13th birdies at the seventh and tenth and dropping just one shot at the 14th. Then he went to St Mellion, finishing eighth.

He completed his second win in three days with a four-under-par round of 67 for a two-shot triumph at Cotswold Edge. He started with a birdie, added another at the fourth before dropping his only shot at the fifth. He completed the back nine in three-under, picking up shots at the tenth, 13th and 14th. Watson is comfortable on the Gloucestershire course for he won there two years ago.

His next stop was Taunton and Pickeridge where he shattered his own course record in running away with the pro-am in the Somerset sunshine.

His seven-under-par 62 bettered his previous mark by one. In 2011 his winning margin was seven.