LEE Thompson decimated the short Mathern course to set a new record of eight-under-par 60 in the second round of the Welsh Masters at Marriott St Pierre.

"I was out in two-under (32) and then started to knock in a few putts," he said after playing the back nine in six-under 28.

It was the low score of the 31-year-old Dudsbury assistant's career to propel him into the leading trio for the final round alongside Barry Austin (Teign Valley) and Marcus Higley (Yeovil).

And he defied a cold and tonsillitis in the 90-degree heat to surge into a five-stroke lead over Austin by the ninth.

His first West Region order of merit title since he won the South West title at St Mellion seven years ago looked virtually guaranteed as Higley was shedding a host of shots.

But Austin, the order of merit leader, who won the West Region championship in April and finished runner-up in the Wood-BMW Classic at Dudsbury last month, holed a bunker shot on the tenth for an eagle to close the gap.

After the tall Devonian birdied the 12th he had picked up five shots in four holes to reach 13-under-par and move to within two shots.

The deficit became one when Thompson drove into a ditch on the 14th and dropped a shot.

And they were level when Austin holed a 12-foot putt for birdie on the 15th.

When Thompson's drive was blocked by a tree on the 16th, Austin made another birdie to move ahead.

But they drew level again when Austin lodged his drive behind a 200-year-old tree on the next hole.

Thompson missed an eight-footer that would have given him a one-shot advantage going into the 18th, a challenging 193-yard uphill par three.

He pulled his 3-iron into the left greenside bunker, failed by a fraction to get up and down, leaving Austin two putts for a round of 64 and victory with a total of 14-under 190.

Thompson, who banked £1,400 - the biggest cheque since he won the Europro Tour event at Dudsbury a year ago - said: "Barry came back in 29 so deserved to win. His bunker shot at 10 was the turning point."

He is pleased with his decision to quit the Europro Tour as he could no longer afford to play. He has won two Pro-ams, at Forest Hills and Cotswold Edge and his team of sponsors from Alfa Engineering of Poole helped him win the team prize at Marlborough.

Thompson and the Putman family, father Keith and sons Andy and Jonathan, returned 20-under-par 124.

Thompson did much of the damage with a five-under-par round of 67 that equalled Weymouth's Michael Watson's tally. He said: "We managed three net eagles that helped enormously."

His day's work was rewarded by around £700. Davis shared third on 68, worth £318.

Andy Beal (Salisbury), the winner at Dudsbury, found too many water hazards and missed the cut at St Pierre. So did Steve Thorne (Queens Park) and Richard Pullen (Ashley Wood).

Defending champion Sean McDonagh (Rushmore Park, 68 70 73) finished 35th after taking nine on the par-four third in the third round when he lost two balls in the clover.

All four Dudsbury pros made the cut. Steve Pockneall played the final round for the first time in an OOM tournament after two 69s, but he concluded with 75.

This was despite being stung by a wasp that slipped down his shirt while he was on the sixth tee.

Mark Wiggett was 23rd (66 72 67), alongside Rod Davis (Canford Magna 68 67 70), and Kevin Spurgeon 29th (70 68 70).

Bournemouth Alliance regular Watson was fourth on 193 (65 64 64), one shot behind ex-European Tour player Andrew Sherborne (Long Ashton).