Bells Hotel and the Forest of Dean Golf Club

Richard Dinsdale, who has been striving to win a West Region PGA order of merit event since his last success 15 years ago, finally broke through again to claim the Forest Classic.

But the 36-year-old Parc Golf Academy teaching professional only won at the third extra play-off in the late evening gloom at Forest Hills.

The Welshman made a remarkable birdie three with an exquisite lob wedge over the trees to within ten feet to end the challenge of defending champion Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) after the third player Chris Gill (Exeter) missed a two-foot putt to depart at the first hole.

“I have been waiting a long time after my first win in the Rhondda Masters all those years ago,” said the former European Tour player who has also featured on the PGA Cup team against the United States. “I’ve played regularly since but never got really close, but I put it all together in the Forest.”

Dinsdale was full of praise for the courses, facilities and catering. He said: “They were probably the best greens I have played on all season. I could do no wrong over the Forest of Dean course.

“Both the Bells course, with its recent improvements, and Forest Hills have become two of the most playable courses in the region and it was a pleasure to compete on them both on two very fine summer’s days.”

After dominating on the first day with a six-under-par at Bells to lead by three, his round at Forest Hills was in danger of imploding when he dropped four shots in the first eight holes.

But he recovered and five birdies rapidly followed on the ninth, tenth, 12th, 213th and 15th after his final dropped shot on the 14th.

He failed to sink a 12 foot putt on the last for the 71 required for outright victory after Gill and Goodwin had posted scores of 66 and 67 to be in at six-under 135.

Gill, who also lost a play-off a year ago, made seven birdies including three over the closing four holes, as he made up a six-shot overnight deficit.

Course specialist Goodwin, five behind after the opening day, made six birdies from the seventh hole and suffered one setback when he found a bunker off the tee at the par five 15th.

Consolation was taking first place in the betterball with nine-handicapper Bruce Peare who is a carpentry contractor in Cirencester. They finished on 123 (59 64) to beat Upavon pair Dan Carter and five-handicapper Matt Partridge (63 63) by three shots with Hamptworth’s David Hutton and Nancy Pallas third (63 64).

Glenn Ross, the West Region secretary, said: “This was another highly successful event that was appreciated by both the professionals and the amateurs who played with them.

“The arrangements made by all the staff at the hotel and at the golf clubs were exemplary and we are really looking forward to returning for a fourth time next year.”

The presentation was made by Chris Hardy, the Forest Hills club captain, with Ben Jackson, the Forest of Dean vice captain, also in attendance.