Richard Dinsdale will fly the flag for tournament sponsors Asbri in next week’s Welsh National PGA Championship at Machynys Peninsula and in doing so attempt to end a 24-year hiatus.
Dinsdale, who works for the Welsh-based PGA Partners that have sponsored the tournament since 2013, won the event at the Vale of Glamorgan in 1999 but has found repeating that success elusive.
“That was a long time ago,” concedes Dinsdale, who will turn 51 the day after this year’s event.
“I’ve played in most of them since then but no joy. It’s funny since Asbri started sponsoring the tournament I’ve not done any good in any of them! It always used to be a strong tournament for me.”
In playing down his record, Dinsdale does himself a disservice, not least in failing to mention he finished runner up two shots behind Mark Pilkington at Conwy in 2019.
“Pilko’s one of several really good players in the field,” Dinsdale added. “Toby Hunt, who is in top form at the moment, is playing as are Lee Rooke, Tim Dykes and Sion Bebb. They’ve all won the tournament before.”
Bebb (pictured) has won it four times and is the fourth most successful player in the history of a tournament that was first contested in 1904, just three years after the PGA was formed.
His most recent victory was achieved at Machynys Peninsula last year and his success at the age of 54 gives Dinsdale some encouragement.
“Bebby won it as a senior so there’s hope,” he said. “But my game’s not great right now. My confidence is a bit low and my putting in this week’s PGA South Wales Open was horrendous.
“I’ve got to try and find s bit of magic for an event I’m looking forward to. It’s a fantastic venue. I played there last year when I finished 10th after having a bad first day. And I was back there six weeks ago in for Senior Open qualifying – it’s a really good test.”
