Knowle's Mark Sanders happily splashed his way around Bristol & Clifton to register his first Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal win of the season.

The former England amateur champion Sanders, affectionately known as 'Colonel', won by two shots as he beat the heavy showers.

The course absorbed the deluge well, although only the huge efforts of the green staff made play possible.

Sanders, pictured, carded a one-over-par 71 on a course he knows well as he was a Bristol & Clifton member during his most successful amateur years before he joined the European Tour.

He dropped shots at the third and fourth holes, but his round was transformed by three successive birdies from the eighth.

His two at the 13th enabled him to share the birdie sweep with Kendleshire amateur Chris Evans.

The Gloucestershire county player, who was joint winner with David Haines (Brean) the previous week on his home course, was joint second with Haines, George Ryall (Players) and Steve Ritchie (Farrington) after hitting 73.

Gareth Bennett, Ed Goodwin (both Cirencester), Roy Holland (Long Ashton), Kevin Pitts (Woodspring) and Daryl Kelley (Filton) shared sixth on 74.

The win moved Sanders temporarily into second place in the order of merit behind Haines.

Ryall earned a morale-boosting victory in his final event before going to Portugal this week for his attempt to win a full European Seniors Tour card. He won the Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal at fog bound Bath. He navigated the Sham Castle layout in just 66 shots for a five-under-par one-stroke success over Hambrook duo Giuseppe Licata and Trevor Jones, and the in-form Haines.

The course was closed until the fog lifted and eventually the large field was split to a two-tee start from the first and eighth holes.

Ryall, who started from the eighth, made the first of his seven birdies at the 10th.

He also made an eagle three at the 15th to take the birdie sweep with nine.

Despite dropping a shot at the final hole, Haines consolidated his lead in the order of merit. His closest challenger is now Ryall, who is just four points behind.