Elation after despair for Dinsdale

Richard Dinsdale overcame a late scare to win The Players Championship at Cumberwell Park.

The Park Golf Academy pro suffered a triple bogey seven at tough par-four 15^th and followed with a three-putt bogey before turning away in disgust.

“I thought I had thrown the championship away and was totally dejected,” Dinsdale told playing partners Cennydd Mills (Pyle and Kenfig) and Nick Brennan (Bowood). He had been favourite and was leading by three shots at ten-under-par at the time.

But sadness turned to joy when he drove to the front of the 320-yard 17^th green. He chipped in for an eagle two and a final par took him to eight-under-par 134 for a one-shot success over Ryder Cup winner Phillip Price playing in the final group behind him.

Price, accompanied by first round leaders Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) and Cumberwell general manager Ali James, the only amateur in the field, plotted his way diligently round a course he had never seen before. He dropped his only shot when he three-putted the 11^th and his fourth birdie on the 16^th took him to seven-under-par.

He took three from the fringe for a par at the 17^th before the curling 20-foot putt from above the hole he needed to tie his fellow Welshman Dinsdale circled the hole at the last but stayed out.

“I’ve had a great time, this is a beautiful place and I am delighted to have come so close to winning,” Price said after his fourth West appearance of the season, the last before he competes in the Russian Open on the European Tour next week. “I am sending emails seeking invitations to Tour events now.”

Dinsdale’s first Order of Merit win since the Forest Classic five years ago consolidates second position in the Order of Merit. Watson still leads and he shared third with another European Tour winner Stephen Dodd and the consistent Lee Thompson (Dudsbury), who eagled the 11^th but lamented putting problems. They all signed for six-under 136.

Until his late lapses Dinsdale was in impeccable form. He completed a hat-trick of birdies from the second and followed with a run of five successive birdies from the ninth.

“This should help me qualify for the Play-Offs again,” said the 42-year-old two-time PGA Cup player. “I went to Turkey last year and didn‘t do myself justice so this year I hope to fare better if I can hang on and make it.”

Welsh National champion Dodd followed an opening 69 with the only error-free round of the second day, carding 14 pars and four birdies. In-form Watson held a one-stroke lead after 27 holes but indecision on the tenth tee cost him three shots. A fluffed drive and two shots from an impossible lie in the bunker compounded by three putts left him crestfallen.

But he birdied the 11^th and a 30-foot eagle putt on the 12^th repaired some of the damage until a double bogey at the par-three 13^th ended his challenge. Consolation was remaining at the top of the OOM although Dinsdale is closing fast.

Watson said: “At least I’m still top but it’s going to be close as there are so many good players in the region. I’m glad Richard won because we’ve had many close tussles which I have usually won.”

St Kew pro Richard O’Hanlon’s chances suffered as he was disqualified after signing for a wrong score, an error made by Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre) after his opening round.

David Dixon (Enmore Park) is third in the OOM and the consistent Mills fourth. They finished joint sixth in the tournament alongside James who played the back nine in four-under-par and was delighted with his return of five-under 137.