DISILLUSIONED Martyn Thompson walked off the final green at the Manor House, Moreton-hampstead, and said: "Now I know how Greg Norman felt."

His reference to the Australian's remarkable final day slump that handed the US Masters to Nick Faldo six years ago was appropriate.

Thompson was three shots ahead of Devonian Barry Austin, 31, (Teign Valley) on the final mor-ning of the PGA West Region South West Championship, but finished an astonishing six shots behind after a long, rain-interrupted day.

The 32-year-old Parkstone club pro and this year's West Region captain will never forget the longest round of his career. It took more than eight hours between frequent stoppages for the greens to be cleared of water by a five-man strong greenstaff armed with squeegees.

Yet there was no indication of the collapse to come when the final phase started at 4.15pm. Thompson was two strokes ahead, but the 172-yard 10th hole immediately proved a turning point for the last group.

He immediately lost his lead by three-putting from 15 feet as Austin sunk a four-footer for birdie. It was all downhill after that.

Two further three-putts presented Austin with a three-stroke lead by the 14th. Thompson reduced the deficit with a birdie on the 15th, but any thoughts of a late challenge faded with another two-shot swing when he took three from the edge of the 17th green as Austin birdied.

To make matters worse, Thompson missed the final green with a sand wedge from 50 yards. He dropped another shot to finish four-over-par 73 to allow Chris Benians (West Cornwall) to take a share of second and £1,125. Austin came home in 29 for a five-under-par 64.

Thompson made the mistake of trying to be too defensive. "Negative golf is not in my nature," he said. "But I turned it into a matchplay with Barry and in future must play my natural game and attack rather than be defensive.

"I didn't use my brain. I didn't even finish second on my own, but Barry played so well, he would have taken some beating."

He also led going into the final round of the West Region Champion-ship at East Dorset last year, but slipped right down the field.

Because of the rain, the championship was re-duced to only the back nine holes on the higher, drier ground on the first two days. Thompson returned two four-under-par 30s to leave Austin and Benians three adrift.

Rod Davis (Canford Magna) took third place (£750) after a steady final round 68.

He said: "My first round of 37 meant I was always chasing but I put myself into contention with 31 on the second day, so I'm pretty satisfied."

It was probably an anti-climax for defending champion Mark Wiggett after his experiences playing at the PGA Championship at Wentworth, but he was never in contention.

Rounds of 35, 36 and 72 left him in a share of 28th alongside Graham Howell (Sturminster Marshall) who shot identical scores.

Steve Mudford (The Dorset, 35 36 71) and Ashley Moon (Ferndown, 32 36 74) shared 24th.

Austin also carded 65 to win the Pro Am with Wiggett a shot behind (earning £150) while Thompson and Davis were joint third on 66.

Mudford shot 67 and picked up £250 for leading home the winning team from Bristol and West (Devon).