Play-off win for ex-Ryder Cup hero

Phillip Price turned the clock back as he won his first Order of Merit tournament for 25 years at Royal North Devon.

The European Tour and Ryder Cup winner won the inaugural 36-hole West of England Masters at the second hole in a three-man play-off.

“My last big regional wins were the West Region Championship in 1990 and the Spring Classic the same year,” recalled the former professional at Pontypridd.

He defeated Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) and Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) who also finished on four-under-par 140 after a difficult second round in the strong seaside winds.

The Welshman, who went on to star on the European Tour and is now preparing for a tilt at the Champions Tour in the United States next year, also set a new low round for a professional on his first visit to the 151-year-old Royal North Devon  links.

He shot seven-under-par 65 on the first day when “the course was as easy as it could be,” to beat the 66 made by Australian Kel Nagle the time a professional tournament was held on the championship course in 1975. But Price’s effort will not stand as a course record as placing was permitted after heavy rain had delayed the start.

The second round played in high winds offered a completely different test and he slipped to three-over 75. The front nine negotiated into a gale claimed many victims.

Only Order of Merit winner Thompson was able to better par to force himself into a play-off after making up four shots on the Welshman.

“It was a slog and so hard today to conclude a tough week,” said Price after he made a winning par four on the 18th in the play-off. “But I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to such a historic course.”

Thompson was the first man eliminated on the par five opening hole as Bebb and Price birdied, but Bebb failed to get up and down from behind the green as Price profited from a 320-yard drive downwind at the end.

Bebb also climbed up the field with one of only three par rounds. He was four over after seven holes but recovered sensationally with five birdies over the final ten holes. He suffered his second play-off disappointment of the season as he lost the Wales Professional Championship to Garry Houston at Radyr.

A play-off could have been unnecessary. Price, who dropped three shots on the front nine and made just one birdie at the 15th, took four to get down from 50-yards on the 17th.

James Ruth (China Fleet) also had chances of winning outright. The leading West money-winner, who is enjoying an outstanding season, was five-under-par before making bogeys at the 15th and 17th to slip back to fourth in three-under-par 141.

He said: “I was not too disappointed because I have finished runner-up in the Order of Merit and it was my goal to get to the PGA Play-Offs in Turkey. Overall it’s been a very good season as I have been more consistent and my scoring average over the past three months has been around 66.”

Paul Hendriksen finished third in the OOM despite dropping to 19th after a closing 77. But his triumph as PGA champion opened the PGA Play-Off door to an extra West man.

David Dixon just failed to make it, also slipping to 19th, so Adam Frayne (Yelverton), winner of the Players Championship at Cumberwell Park, claimed the final spot by sharing sixth.

Thompson, 43, also made his debut on the course. “It grows on you,” he said. ”I had two bogeys in the three rounds here so have to be pleased as it was never easy. Although the course looks wide open it is certainly not when you play on it.

“Winning the Order of Merit was my target and I have played more consistently this year, helped by my coach Stuart Little.

“This will be my third visit to the PGA Play-Offs – I went to Turkey three years ago and played at Royal Liverpool previously – and I am really looking forward to it.”