PGA NEWS: Weymouth assistant Michael Watson landed his biggest prize of the season and then thanked his future brother-in-law for making it possible.

After winning the West Region PGA Cornish Festival by three strokes over Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) he said Weymouth osteopath Michael Talbot deserved the highest praise.

The man who is marrying Carolyn Watson spent four months curing an acute back problem.

He said: "I had big trouble with a disc and needed extensive treatment and a stiff exercise routine to strengthen my back.

"It seems to have worked because the pain has gone and I have enjoyed a good week after being unable to play for so long."

Watson, aged 33, started with five birdies and five bogeys in a level par 69 at windy Newquay.

He followed with three-under-par in the showers at Trevose and concluded with a stunning best-of-the-week four-under-par 65 at the challenging St Enodoc championship course.

He said: "I was delighted with that round. I made four birdies and 14 pars. When I looked in danger of dropping a shot I holed out well.

"Although I only had a one shot lead (over Tony Nash from Lostwithiel) I thought I would be in with a shout if I was under par again on a great course that was in such a marvellous condition."

After his first win in Cornwall, worth £1,150, he plans to play in Europro Tour events as well as major tournaments in the West Region.

Graham Howell was delighted with his game. He said: "I didn't hit a bad shot all week. I just had rather a lot of putts 35 in my 70 at Newquay, for example."

He has always found the marvellous St Enodoc links difficult. But he opened with the only par round of the first day in testing conditions, helped by an eagle three at the first.

Jon Langmead (Hele Park) prevented Dorset capturing the first three spots when he pipped Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) for third spot by one shot.

Leading final scores

202 (-7) Michael Watson (Weymouth) 69 68 65 £1,150

205 Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) 69 70 66 £875

206 Jon Langmead (Hele Park) 70 70 66 £750

207 Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) 74 67 66 £650

211 Ben Johnson (Bramshott Hill) 73 69 69 £500

211 Tony Nash (Lostwithiel) 67 71 73 £500

212 Mark Plummer (Manor House, Castle Combe) 71 73 68 £400

213 Neil Holman (Churston) 70 68 75 £325

213 Martyn Thompson (Parkstone) 72 68 73 £325

214 Nigel Tokely (Broadstone) 70 73 71 £196

214 Jon Bevan (Weymouth) 72 71 71 £196

214 Martin Cummins (Canford Magna) 72 70 72 £196

214 Paul Turpin (Carlyon Bay) 73 69 72 £196

215 Alan Lovelace (Merrist Wood) 68 76 71

215 Barry Austin (Teign Valley) 75 73 71

215 David Hutton (High Post) 74 72 69

215 George Ryall (Clevedon Golf Centre) 72 70 73

215 John Peters (St Marys) 74 69 72

215 Mark Bevan (Newquay) 68 72 75