BARRY Austin, the reigning West Region order of merit winner, prepared for the biggest May schedule of his career by winning the region's PGA Championship for the first time at The Players Club, near Bristol.

Martyn Thompson, who is also playing in the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth and the Wales Open at Celtic Manor, preferred to take his wife Sally and the children to Cornwall for a break.

He elected not to defend the championship he won at The Dorset last year. But he is not treating his European Tour debut lightly.

Despite being one of West's leading playing and teaching professionals, he is forking out £100-a-time on lessons from former Knighton Heath and West Wilts pro Gary Smith.

He said: "My long game has always been my strength but Gary is a short game specialist and that is where I need to improve.

"He is one of the best in the business and coaches the England team. I am practicing very hard and would love to make the cut in both events."

Austin, the 32-year-old Teign Valley assistant, just gets better and better. He said: "I feel I've started where I left off last year. I can see the shots and hit the ball where I want.

"Winning the West Region title was the perfect way for me to prepare for Wentworth and Celtic Manor. I am generally a slow starter to a season but that hasn't been the case for two years now.

"I have had great support from my club and want to do well not only for myself but for Scott Amiet (the Teign Valley pro) and everyone at the club who have been so supportive.

"The club will travel in numbers to back me in both events and I just hope I can do myself justice.

"I just want to treat the two tournaments as normal games of golf, but it won't be easy under that pressure."

Austin enjoyed a good winter. He won the Devon matchplay, a couple of county PGA medals and the South West Open Foursomes at Yelverton with Teign Valley owner Sue Pearman.

He played in the European Tour in the Benson and Hedges International at St Mellion in 1994, the year after he won his first West Region order of merit.

Ian Edwards, a member at Enmore Park, will be Austin's caddy. They have been friends for ten years and Edwards has caddied for him in The Open qualifiers. They have also played in the West Region Cornish Festival together.