Long wait over for Parc pro Dinsdale (From South Wales Argus)

Long wait over for Parc pro Dinsdale

2:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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Richard Dinsdale won his first West Region PGA order of merit event for 15 years when he finally broke through again to claim the Forest Classic.

But the 36-year-old Parc Golf Academy head professional in Newport only won at the third extra play-off in the gloom at Forest Hills to collect £1,800.

He made a remarkable birdie three at the tenth to end the challenge of defending champion Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) after the third player Chris Gill (Exeter) missed a two-foot putt to depart at the first hole.

Goodwin looked to be favourite as his 3-wood drive finished a yard off the green while Dinsdale’s drive left him in the middle of a thicket. The Welshman produced an exquisite lob wedge over the trees to within ten feet. Goodwin, who had a bad lie, could only hit and hope and finished 18 feet short. He missed the putt before Dinsdale converted.

“I have been waiting a long time after my first win in the Rhondda Masters all those years ago,” he said. “I’ve played regularly since but never got really close.

“I worked hard at my game and am enjoying a good season. I played well in the Glenmuir pros so finishing 20th was disappointing, but I put it all together in the Forest.”

After dominating on the first day with a six-under-par over the Bells Forest of Dean course to lead by three, his round at Forest Hills was in danger of imploding when he dropped four shots in the first eight holes.

“I played lovely golf on the first day but felt nervy at the start of the second round and started frittering shots away with three bogeys and a double,” he said.

“Despite that I still felt confident I could turn it around as I knew I was playing all right.”

Five birdies rapidly followed on the ninth, tenth, 12th, 213th and 15th after his final dropped shot on the 14th.

He failed to sink a 12 foot putt on the last for the 71 required for outright victory after Gill and Goodwin had posted scores of 66 and 67 to be in at six-under 135.

There was a strong Welsh challenge. Martin Stimson (Ashburnham) was six under until he dropped a shot on the last. He settled for 67 after an opening 70 for a share of sixth.

Adam Constable (Cardiff) was on the same mark after 69 and 68. He holed his second shot with a 50-yard wedge for an eagle two and birdied 15.

But he blew his chances of making the play-off when he three-putted the 17th and failed to land a six-foot birdie putt on the last.

Although Alun Evans (Newport Links) shared 13th after rounds of 71 and 70 he occupies third place in the region’s order of merit table.

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