DUDSBURY’S penultimate hole provided delight for winner Michael Watson and despair for runner-up Richard Dinsdale, the pair who shared the drama that decided the inaugural Dudsbury Masters in brilliant Bournemouth sunshine.

Watson, from Wessex Golf Centre in Weymouth, drove beneath a tree on the 550-yard 17th, yet he managed to make a superb recovery when he cut a low shot to within 15 feet of the hole and sank the uphill putt for an eagle.

Dinsdale carved his second shot into knee-high rough beside the green. Miraculously he managed to find the green but just failed with a birdie putt.

So the duo, who started the day sharing the 18-hole lead on five-under-par, were finally separated by two shots.

But Dinsdale fought back and birdied the last from four feet leaving Watson to sink an 18-inch par putt to win by one shot.

Watson followed his 66 with a two-under 69, including two birdies and two bogeys as the second day scoring was generally higher in the event.

He said: “There were difficult pin positions so you needed to be more cautious and I didn’t stray too far off the fairway. The 17th was vital. Our two shots were Seve-like to say the least. Rich played an unbelievable shot from the hay.”

Watson, 44, is determined to win a place in the season-ending play-offs in Turkey again and this is the time of year he usually runs into top form.

He said: “I would sacrifice a few pro-am wins for good results in the Order of Merit.

“My game is not as sharp as it used to be as I don’t have the time to practice as I am busy at the range. But I like playing and it’s great to continue to be in contention.”

He has displaced David Dixon (Enmore Park), who was absent while playing in final qualifying for The Open, at the head of the OOM. The best five results from six are registered.