FERNDOWN Forest professional Graham Howell came close to winning his second West Region PGA order of merit title but lost a dramatic play-off in the Race to Woodbury Park Tournament, in association with Johnnie Walker, at the regional headquarters in East Devon.

Howell, winner of the Bournemouth Festival at Broadstone and Dudsbury two years ago, shared the first round lead on five-under-par 67 with Richard O’Hanlon (The Point at Polzeath) who later faded.

And he was playing well on the second day despite struggling with a hip injury and he limped his way round the course. “I had a lot of pain at the back of my hip during the first round and put some medication on it but gradually eased,” he said.

A brilliant wedge to four feet brought a birdie at the 17th to level with new leader Liam Bond ( St Pierre). Both were on nine-under-par and Howell had a great chance to win outright but his putt on the 18th was a foot short.

So he faced a three-hole play-off. After both had parred the first and 17th holes, the Dorset man’s chances evaporated when his wedge from 130-yards at the 18th landed a foot short of the green and the ball spun back into the rushes by the water’s edge. He failed to get up and down.

Bond, whose shot finished safely 25 feet beyond the pin, duly made a winning putt to complete his fourth OOM win in six outings after completing a blemish-free six-birdie 66 in normal time after opening with a three-under 69.

“I had to go for it but paid the penalty,” said Howell, who shot 67 and 68 and won £1,215. “I played some very good golf this week and came very close to beating a player who played in all four rounds of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor last week who is having an outstanding year.”

Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) was a potential winner making seven birdies on the second day, but his round was marred by three dropped shots, including one at the last. He ended in fourth fronm 69 and 68, making £600. He also just failed to complete the season in the top three in the order of merit. He was placed sixth while Howell climbed to seventh.

This meant he missed the chance to play again in the Titleist Play-Offs in Turkey in November where the leading players in the £15,000 event qualify for selected entry into European Tour and Challenge tour events next year.

Selected scores: 140 Gary Emerson (Playgolf Bournemouth) 68 72, 141 Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) 70 71, 144 Paul Jones (Canford Magna) 76 68, 148 Andrew Windsor (Ferndown) 72 76, Scott Porter (Dorset Golf & Country Club) 72 76, Neil Rowlands (Broadstone) 73 75.