WALES OPEN: Huldahl victorious after the deluge (From South Wales Argus)

WALES OPEN: Huldahl victorious after the deluge

6:54pm Sunday 7th June 2009

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DANE Jeppe Huldahl was the shock winner at the Celtic Manor Wales Open, holding off the challenge of Ryder Cup men Niclas Fasth and Ignacio Garrido in a tournament certain to be remembered for the weather more than anything else.

Two glorious days of sunshine gave way to almost a month’s worth of rain on Friday night as an overnight deluge of three inches forced major, major delays to the tournament on Saturday.

Six and a half hours were lost, and with the Ryder Cup set to be staged next October lessons will certainly have been learned in the lead-up to the huge spectacle heading to Newport.

Director of golf courses at the Celtic Manor Jim McKenzie confessed it had been an extremely stressful time.

“We’ve been busy, that’s for sure, I’ve had 12 and a half hours’ sleep in the last four days. All of the guys have achieved miracles in the last few days, the weather has been quite extraordinary,” he said.

“The guys have prepared and re-prepared the golf course a multitude of times.

“We keep very accurate temperature and rainfall records and we’ve had just under three inches, and that’s fallen in the last 27 hours.

“That is extremely rare, we have 50 inches of rain annually here so three inches is a fair percentage of that, and to fall at the beginning of June is quite extraordinary.

“But we’d rather have this dry run now than at the Ryder Cup to learn how to do things and what to improve.

“This has been a fabulous test for us for the Ryder Cup and forthcoming Wales Opens.”

On the course it was a thrilling final afternoon with low scoring key on the back nine, Huldahl becoming the tenth different winner of the Wales Open as the soft fairways allowed for a birdie blitz from the Dane, who recorded his maiden European Tour victory, recalling memories of compatriot Steen Tinning winning the first Wales Open.

With the pressure on, Huldahl amazingly completed an error-free round, four birdies and no bogeys seeing him home by a single stroke as he held his nerve on the dramatic 18th hole of the new Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course.

Fasth had to be content with second place, with Garrido in third.

Meanwhile, American Ryder Cup skipper Corey Pavin has confessed he is desperate to bring Tiger Woods and co to the Wales Open next year, but insists it is highly unlikely to happen.

European skipper Colin Montgomerie warned stay-away stars such as Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald earlier this week that he would take an extremely dim view if the cream of European golf didn’t tee off at the Celtic Manor in this first week of June next year.

And now Pavin, who lost out to Monty by one stroke in the battle of the skippers, finishing at four over par, has revealed to the Argus that he will be recommending the tournament to his players.

He explained: “I had an absolutely fantastic week and will take a lot out of it, the hospitality and the people were tremendous towards me.

“I would like to come again next year, I would certainly recommend the tournament to all of my players, I would love to see 50 Americans here next year playing.

“Whether it is possible is another matter entirely, realistically it isn’t going to happen, but I would like it.

“If some of the guys came over and did well on the golf course it would certainly count in their favour in terms of wildcard selection.”

Pavin was glad to have made the cut on Friday, the deluge of rain perhaps giving a truer indication of what life at the Celtic Manor will be like next October when the Ryder Cup is staged.

“For sure, the more of a chance you get to see the whole spectrum, different conditions, that is invaluable,” he said.

Montgomerie declined to comment after his final round, no doubt the valet parking incident that saw his prized Bentley pranged on Saturday adding to his gloom after he failed to capitalise on two opening rounds of 69, firing a final round of 71.

Pavin was paired with Blackwood’s Bradley Dredge today and Dredge admits he is far from confident when he tees up at Sunningdale tomorrow, he is set for Open qualifying and will be paired with Rhys Davies, the Bridgend rookie who finished as the top Welshman in his home event.

“The way I am playing I don’t really know why I am bothering, but I have made the commitment now and I can’t leave Rhys on his own!” he joked.

Dredge toiled and was well down the field after finishing on six over par, but it was a far happier afternoon for Davies, who finished on two under par.

“That was pleasing, to be the top Welshman is a bonus, but it’s been a good week for me that perhaps could’ve been even better,” he said.

Huldahl’s maiden tour victory earned him £300,000.

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