Lone eagle helps Hunt to Celtic Manor triumph

Assistants’ champion Toby Hunt (St Mellons) surprised a top-quality field to win the Celtic Manor Ryder Cup 2010 celebration pro-am over the famed Twenty Ten 2010 course with a three-under round of 68.

His first PGA in England and Wales (South West) triumph as a professional also helped him lead the second placed team as he won a total of £930, his biggest pay day since he left the amateur ranks two years ago.

He finished a shot clear of experienced former Challenge Tour man Matt Dearden (Llantrisant & Pontyclun) with outstanding newcomer Ashley Mansell (Clevedon) a further shot back in third on level par.

Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Club/Asbri Golf), Lee Corfield (Burnham & Berrow), Adam Frayne (Yelverton) and home man Joe Ferguson shared fourth on 73 with Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) and Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) on 73.

Hunt’s success was built on a magnificent run of three holes when he picked up four shots after going out in par 36 with birdies at the second, fifth and ninth marred by three dropped shots.

His victory march started when he birdied the 13th and 14th before making an eagle two on the driveable 15th. It was the only eagle made on the day. His only dropped shot on the back nine at the 18th proved to be only a minor setback.

Dependable Dearden made birdies at the seventh, ninth and 15th with a solitary bogey at the par three 13th. Mansell dropped successive shots at the sixth and seventh but back to back birdie threes at 14 and 15 levelled his round.

Paul Collins (Marriott St Pierre) won the team award on seven-under-par worth 79 stableford points, one clear of Hunt and James Maxwell (Teign Valley) with Dan Clark (Remedy Oak) losing out on the pro prizes on countback.