Drummond shows his class at Celtic Manor

Former PGA champion Scott Drummond achieved his first solo win in the West since moving to the Plymouth area three years ago. He was the player only to break par in the Celtic Manor pro-am which celebrates the 2010 Ryder Cup.

The 2004 Wentworth winner shot one-under-par 70 in brutal, windy but mainly dry conditions over the tough championship lay-out making three birdies on the third, fifth and seventh holes in a remarkable outward nine of 33. He added another birdie at the 15^th but shed shots at the fourth, 10^th and 17th.

Now also a TV commentator on Europro Tour events, his only previous podium appearance was alongside James Ruth at the Point of Polzeath last season.

He praised the condition of the course after two days of deluges. “It was the best I can ever remember,” he said at prize-giving.

Richard Dinsdale (Asbri Golf) has played often over the course so it was no surprise when he finished runner-up one shot behind. He also led the Parc-Asbri team of Paul Williams, Eryl Williams and Will Hewitt into third place in the team event on 79 points.

They lost out to Ashley Mansell’s Clevedon team of Graham Trenaman, John Shepherd and Jason Quick whose 83 beat Toby Hunt (St Mellons) and the Capital Coated Steel Ltd trio of his father Chris, Mark Fowler and Mike Britton by two points.

Birdies were at a premium. Dinsdale was three-under after birdies on the second, fourth and seventh and out on 33 before dropping three shots on the way home.

Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge) managed four and missed the chance to share second when he bogged the last.

Mansell was fourth on 73, one better than Hunt with Ross Langdon (Brickhampton Court), Jon Bevan  (Sherborne), Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) and visiting Craig Sutherland (Cherry Lodge) sharing sixth on 75.