CUMBERWELL Park’s general manager Ali James acclaimed another successful PGA West Region tournament that produced three days of outstanding golf, writes PETER GODSIFF.

He said: “It has been a fantastic week with 44 teams in the pro-am, great support from Lansdown Mazda, and is testimony to the high quality field. You only have to look at the top of the leaderboard to see big names.

“The players enjoy coming here and we enjoy having them as they raise the profile of the club. The course is in fabulous condition, reflected by the scoring as 28 players finished under par.”

James, a former Wiltshire county captain and still a regular in the team, elected not to play this year as an invited guest. He shocked a class field when he won the inaugural Players Championship in 2011.

“I have not had enough time to practice and do myself justice as there is so much going on here. Our membership continues to increase and the new nine-hole par three course is expected to be ready in a year’s time when we will then have 54 holes.”

Adam Frayne (Yelverton) defended his one-shot first round lead to win the Players Championship with a safety-first 66 to finish 11-under-par 131 after opening with 65 in the event sponsored again by Lansdown Mazda.

He managed to extend his lead to three after making six birdies in eight holes from the sixth hole. After that it was easy to deny defending champion Welshman Richard Dinsdale (Asbri Golf, 68 65) and Richard O’Hanlon (St Kew 67 66) by two shots to win £1,850.

David Dixon (Enmore Park) closed with 63 after a level par 71 and the rapidly-improving Welshman Toby Hunt (St Mellons 66 68) shared third on 134.

Frayne’s win was over a golf course his father helped to build 21 years ago. “I had no idea he was involved,” he said, referring to the prolific course design and build partnership of Frank Frayne and Adrian Stiff, now co-owner of The Players Club near Bristol.

European Tour winner Dixon carded a remarkable nine-under-par 62 to win the pro-am. He beat two other former European Tour stars Phillip Price and Scott Drummond by two shots, yet he dropped a shot at the par four opening hole before he went on to card ten birdies.

Ali James said: “I didn’t see 62 out there today but what a score. There was some awesome golf despite the constant drizzle.”

Ryder Cup man Price made a sensational seven-under 29 over the second nine with an eagle at the 12th and five birdies. Former PGA champion Drummond also made one bogey, a five at the 15th, but added eight birdies in two halves of 32.

Giuseppe Licata (Bristol Golf Centre), Lee Corfield (Burnham & Berrow), Ross Langdon (Gloucester), Paul Jones (Canford Magna) and Russ Berry (Professional Golf Europe Ltd) shared fourth on 67.

Drummond led home the winning team on 18-under-par 90 points followed by John Jacobs, Cumberwell’s director of golf on 89, with Dixon’s trio a shot further back in third.