While the world of golf will focus on The Celtic Manor Resort in October when Europe face the United States in The Ryder Cup, the Welsh venue will command much attention in the first week of June too when it hosts The Celtic Manor Wales Open.
Last year Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl triumphed, almost exactly a year ago to the day that he was competing in the Oceânico Group Pro-Am on the Challenge Tour where he won €1,200 for finishing 28th. Not a huge amount, granted, but money nevertheless which helped him finish tenth on the Rankings at the end of 2008 to guarantee his European Tour playing privileges for the 2009 season. The value of that was illustrated perfectly when he claimed his maiden victory on The Twenty Ten Course and picked up a cheque for €343,086 in the process in addition to a playing exemption until the end of 2011.
It was a victory richly deserved for the Dane who grabbed control of proceedings at the end of the weather-affected third round, staying patient amidst the delays to post a 68, before easing to a one shot victory over Sweden’s Niclas Fasth with a final round 67 for a winning nine under par total of 275.
