Welsh Dragons book Inter County final spot

The Welsh dragons of Sion Bebb, Richard Brookman and Joe Ferguson booked their place in the final of the SkyCaddie PGA England & Wales Inter County Championship – but only after a bruising encounter at Exeter.

Former Tour ace Bebb, based at Vale Hotel & Golf Spa, carded an impressive five-under-par 64 in his second loop of the Devon course to make amends for his opening 72 – and play a crucial part in the South Wales team qualifying for next month’s final at The Belfry.

Team-mates Brookman(Creigiau) and Ferguson (Celtic Manor) gave the side a share of the first round lead alongside Cornwall on four-under-par after 18 holes with scores of 66 and 68 respectively.

With the winds increasing, they found second time around much harder as the Welsh trio limped over the line, collectively dropping four shots in their final three holes as Brookman came home in 75 and Ferguson in 72. However, it was sufficient to guide them to a winning total of six-under-par, one better than their Cornish rivals.

“Both the boys were doing OK and then Joe hit out of bounds on 16, which is a par three, while the 17^th is as hard a par four as you’ll ever play as there’s trouble on the left and out of bounds on the right,” said Bebb.

"Both said that they felt like they’d come home in an ambulance after those closing holes. But as a team we all played our part in the win for the county and have a final to look forward to at the end of the season.”

The South Wales trio will go up against four other counties in the grand final which will be held on the PGA National course at The Belfry from October 14-15 where they will compete over 36 holes for a £10,000 prize fund.

Bebb added: “I’ve played the Brabazon in the English Open but not the PGA course so I’ll have to get up there and have a look around as I’m not familiar with it.”

They narrowly beat the Cornwall trio of Richard O’Hanlon (The Point at Polzeath), Grant Slater (Trevose) and Richard Sadler (Killiow), the latter posting a first round 64. Like their Welsh counterparts, they found the closing holes tricky as they dropped shots on three of the final four holes to miss out.

Third was taken by Devon on two-under-par. Dinnaton’s Paul Hendriksen carded a flawless second round six-under-par 63, the best of the day. The team also comprised Kevin Harper (Sidmouth) and Stuart Disney (Padbrook Park).

• Pictured (l-r): Joe Ferguson, Richard Brookman and Sion Bebb.