WELSH PAIR WIN PGA PRO-CAPTAIN CHALLENGE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
Twelve months after seeing it snatched from his grasp, Welsh pro Richard Dinsdale was celebrating with his club captain Steve Hook after landing the prestigious PGA International Pro-Captain Challenge supported by BMW.

The Pare Golf Academy duo triumphed at Turkey’s Antalya Golf Club to cap an impressive season for Dinsdale who won the Welsh Open PGA Championship and also topped the PGA West Region Order of Merit.
But the ex-PGA Cup player, who was beaten by a shot in the same event 12 months ago, and his captain did it the hard way by overturning a four-shot lead held by rivals Darren Hopwood and Paul Carter from Penwortham Golf Club with five holes to play.
Both pairs started the final round of the 36-hole better-ball event level at five under par, following opening rounds of 66 but a birdie burst before the turn extended Penwortham’s advantage to three strokes.
And when Carter grabbed a net birdie on 12 they looked to have one hand on the trophy but there was a sting in the tale for the Lancashire duo waiting on 14.
Both found bunkers off the tee and by the time Hook got up and down from a bunker for a 4 net 3, Hopwood had double-bogeyed and the lead was cut to one.
Dinsdale then piled on the pressure on 16 with a birdie and when Carter, who again played through the pain barrier, courtesy of metal plates in his knee which will require further surgery in February, bogeyed the same hole the Welsh were one up with two to play and secured victory with a par on the last to sign for a one under 70 to their opponents' 71.
“They were playing so well but I said to Steve just to keep going because it’s such a difficult finish you never know what’s round the corner,” said Dinsdale who picked up a £2,250 winner’s cheque.
“I was hoping it was us turning it on but they had a bit of a bad couple of holes and Steve’s nett birdie on 14 was the killer blow and got us three strokes back on that hole so it was a big moment.”
He added: “I was runner-up last year and determined to go one better and it caps a great season.
“This is the first time I’ve been to Turkey and the PGA Sultan Course was absolutely stunning. There are no let-up holes. At every hole you’ve got to think about your tee shots and second shots – it’s a really difficult golf course, not like a typical modern course which is just a slog with a driver.”
Dinsdale also paid tribute to Hook, a business development manager with Aerospace, who admitted his nerves were jangling over the closing holes.
“His quote as he came off the last was ‘I’m never doing this again’ but he tried so hard and had a couple of moments of brilliance and I’m delighted he’s had his time in the limelight,” said Dinsdale.
Hook, who plays off seven, admitted it had been a memorable experience.
“I’ve won a few club competitions and cups but nothing compares to this,” he said.
“But there was a lot of stress, I’ve never felt pressure like that before. I think it’s because it’s Richard, it’s his job and you want to do well for him.”
Midland club Glen Gorse, represented by pro Dominic Fitzpatrick and Paul Wallace, clinched third place with a 70 to beat Norfolk’s Tony Varney and Iain Phillips by one stroke.
Final results:
1 136 (-6) Richard Dinsdale and Steven Hook (Pare GA) 66 70
2 137 (-5) Darren Hopwood and Paul Carter (Penwortham) 66 71
3 142 (Par) Dominic Fitzpatrick and Paul Wallace (Glen Gorse) 72 70
4 143 (+1) Tony Varney and Iain Phillips (Norfolk) 69 74
5 144 (+2) Patrick Gittens and Pat Comerford (Corrstown) 73 71
6 148 (+6) Stuart Syme and Ian McEwan (Dumfries and Co) 74 74
7= 153 (+11) Peter Rodgers and Murray Cook (Barton on Sea) 77 76,
John Dent and Feride Akkanat (Antalya) 77 76