THE race for a place at the BMW Championship at Wentworth next year continued at Les Mielles yesterday in the South Region PGA Jersey Players Championship.

No fewer than ten players are in the final shake up to secure the available spots and the early pace was set by Craig Cowper who took advantage of benign conditions to shoot a seven-under 63 (-7) that included eight birdies and just one bogey.

Bill Hodkin’s chances of an early lead were blighted by his inability to birdie any of the reachable par 5 and he recorded a 64.

Paul Simpson (West Berkshire), Glenn Ralph (Camberley Heath) and Jason Gilroy are a shot further back on 65.

Last year’s winner, Ben Willman of Farnham fired a 66 and a further 9 players returning a 67.

The event is Pro-am for the first two rounds which each of which is played with a different professional.

The prize for the leading team is also a close affair with C & R Continental Foods, Alex Mollin, Danny Paxton and Helena Sumner, led by Les Mielles pro Lynne Cummins having a clear four shot lead in returning a score of 116 (-24).

The Hong Kong Tigers of Tony Chan, Gabrielle Ho and Kevin Lau shot a better-ball back-nine total of 56, to total 120 (-20) and join Kleinwort Benson, Phillip Duffin, James Rotheram and Peter Nicoll, headed by Gary Marks, in joint second position.

Last year’s winners ‘Red Hot Woods’ were not going to relinquish their title readily and 121 (-19) from Sue Evans, Sarah McCall, and Trevor Simon, placed them joint fourth with the Lady Captain’s team of Gill Davies, Julio Moniz and Lynn Hopfinger.