Ruth hangs on to take famous title

James Ruth (pictured centre) is set to resurrect his Challenge Tour career after winning the Marston’s Beer Company PGA West Region Championship.

After hanging on to beat Liam Bond (St Pierre) by one shot on the final green of Saunton’s East course, he admitted that his recent return to regional golf was a result of financial pressure.

“I ran out of money,” said the St Mellion touring player, 28, who totalled 136 after rounds of 64 and 72. He has missed six successive cuts and made no money since the end of May until he competed in the Tavistock pro-am at his original club on August 1. Since then he has featured strongly.

He is now able to pay for trips to Northern Ireland and France while he ponders his future. He is even considering going through PGA training.

His bid to join three former Open champions as winner of the famous Ligerwood Trophy became something of an ordeal. He improved his lead with a birdie at the third after his opening seven-under-par over the West course the previous day.

After that he made a succession of pars and two bogeys. After dropping a shot at the 13th playing partner Bond drew level with a birdie at the par five 15th.

But he shed a shot at the treacherous par three 17th and his birdie putt from 12 feet on the last that would have brought a play-off slid two inches wide.

Ruth praised his caddie, fiancée Jade Smith who pulled his trolley when he won at Falmouth in the previous event. He also felt the putting lesson he received from Phil Kenyon at Formby Hall was a major factor.

“I putted really well on the first day but I hit the ball badly today and just tried to keep the ball in play although I am very happy shooting six-under for two rounds.”

Home pro Albert MacKenzie returned the day’s best round of three-under

68 with four birdies and one bogey. He was joined in third place by Cennydd Mills (Pyle and Kenfig) who made a shocking start and was two over par at the turn. But he spurted home in four-under 31. 

Martyn Thompson (Parkstone) made a valiant effort to win the championship in each of three decades. Although he was five behind Ruth at the start, four birdies on the opening nine, marred by two bogeys, drew him nearer. He was making a serious challenge after a two at the 13th, but dropped shots at the 16th and 18th.

Stuart Little (Minchinhampton), who was bidding to win the title for the first time since 1999, also propelled himself up the leaderboard with five birdie threes. But four bogeys left him only with a share of sixth with PGA Cup player Nick Brennan (Bowood) who is showing improved form before next month’s tilt with the Americans and promising newcomer Richard Woods (Dainton Park).

Order of Merit leader Sion Bebb (Vale Hotel) was unable to replicate his pro-am success and tied in 23rd place on 145. He has now slipped back to fourth in the Race to Woodbury Park with one event remaining.

Bond regained the lead and is almost certain to claim one of the top three spots to qualify for the Titleist Play-Offs in Turkey. Little has moved into second while the consistent Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy) has risen to third after sharing ninth.