TWO golfers who have dominated the Hampshire PGA order of merit in recent years teamed up to win the first event of the new season - the HPGA Winter Fourball at South Winchester.

Jonathan Barnes and Kevin Saunders steamed to an eight-under-par score of 64 to win by three shots from Bruce Parker and Jason Neve.

South Winchester assistant Barnes was the mainstay of the partnership, with four birdies and an eagle at the 18th, where he almost holed his second shot for an albatross.

Saunders, professional at the newly established Wallhampton club in Lymington, chipped in with three birdies.

Third place was shared by Steve Cowle and Scott Watson and Rob Edwards and David Porter, who has now switched from East Horton to the Wellow club where he started out as an amateur and won their club championship as a 12-year-old.

Earlier in the day Philip Bryden had successfully completed his first duty as the new captain of the Hampshire PGA when he drove into office.

Watched by an audience of his fellow Hampshire PGA professionals, Bryden, from the Tournerbury Club, coped admirably with the pressure to send his opening drive, with a hickory-shafted three wood, sailing down the fairway.

It is the first time that a new HPGA captain has followed a tradition at most clubs and actually driven into office.

Former Hampshire matchplay champion Bryden succeeds Basingstoke's Guy Shoesmith as captain.

Shoesmith is leaving the county to return to his home club, West Hill, as professional.