CUMBERWELL Park hosts the biggest event in the West Region PGA calendar next week when all leading PGA professionals in Wales and the West compete in the largest Order of Merit field for years.

They are led by former Ryder Cup man Phillip Price, who was runner-up last year, and another European Tour winner Stephen Dodd who was third.

The Welsh invaders have profited each year since Ali James, the host club’s general manager and former Wiltshire amateur captain became the shock inaugural winner in 2011. He has decided not to play this year.

The trophy went across the Severn Bridge three years in succession.

Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Club/Asbri Golf) is the defending champion while Liam Bond (St Pierre) won in 2012 and 2013.

In previous years the leading places were also filled by Welshmen - Cennydd Mills (Ridgeway), Matthew Dearden (Llantrisant and Pontyclun) and Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle). They are among 28 Welsh-based players this year.

So current Order of Merit leader Lee Thompson hopes to break the Welsh domination at the expanding 45-hole Wiltshire complex near Bath.

The Dorset man from Dudsbury finished tied third last year with Dodd and Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) after taking fourth spot in the three previous years.

He won the Dudsbury Masters on his home course last month, tied third in the Total Triumph Classic and also leads the money list.

All feature among the 120 players in the 36-hole tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday July 14-15, following Monday’s pro-am, sponsored by Lansdown Mazda.

Alex Blewett is the only home player on view while other locals include Ross McCance (Chippenham Golf Centre), Barry Forster (N Wilts), Dan Carter (Upavon), James Hanham (Bath), Dan Dredge (Orchardleigh), Gregg Hood (Bowood), Chris Coles (Saltford), Alex Todd (Farrington Park) and this year’s PGA captain Barry Sandry from Swindon.

Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton) is the man in form with five wins. This year he won at Oake Manor and followed by taking the national Titleist and Footjoy PGA Championship at Burnham and Berrow, earning a return to the PGA Play Offs in Turkey in December and a place on the PGA Cup team visiting California in September.

He is a mere 30 points behind Thompson in the OOM with Ross Langdon (Gloucester), Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury) and James Ruth (China Fleet) in close pursuit. The leading three players at the end of the season qualify for the Play Offs with a chance to compete in European Tour events next year.

Another former European Tour player David Dixon (Enmore Park) is a threat whenever he tees up. Former PGA champion Scott Drummond from Plymouth makes his Players debut while European Seniors Tour players Gary Emerson (Remedy Oak) and Kevin Spurgeon (Ferndown) are also in the field.

Tournament controller Tom Sheffield said: “This is the strongest entry of the season and all top 25 in last year’s OOM rankings have entered what is becoming a premier event. It promises to be an exciting contest.

“The players always enjoy playing at Cumberwell where they are always warmly welcomed and enjoy playing on such a fine course.”