Pilkington wins Welsh PGA title

MARK Pilkington held his nerve and overcame challenging conditions to complete a wire-towire victory in the Asbri Welsh PGA Championship at Conwy Golf Club.

In doing so he added a new name to the honours roll that began in 1904 and includes the 1991 US Masters champion Ian Woosnam.

Winners of a more recent vintage – Sion Bebb, Richard Dinsdale and Lee Rooke – all threatened to foil Pilkington’s passage to victory.

But the head PGA professional at Porthmadog Golf Club held firm after a tentative start.

Bogeys at the fifth and seventh holes on the course that will stage next year’s Curtis Cup erased the one-shot lead he nursed at the end of the first of two rounds.

A birdie at the eighth steadied matters, as did two in succession at 10 and 11. There was another wobble at the 13th where he dropped a shot but the 41-year-old atoned immediately at the 14th to go two under par for the tournament.

And that’s how it stayed, Pilkington posting a 36-hole total of 142 to finish two shots clear of Dinsdale and three ahead of a quartet sharing third place: Bebb, Rooke, Matthew Tottey and Tim Dykes.

“There are some famous names engraved on this (trophy),” said Pilkington.

“Stephen Dodd has won it a few times and he’s a friend of mine so I’m delighted to win this.

“I managed to play pretty steadily for two days and a practice round on Monday helped me.

“It was windy then so I knew what to expect when it blew yesterday.

“It wasn’t as strong today so that helped but it’s a tough course all the same and, as usual, it’s in excellent condition.”