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Dredge falls short at last hole

03/06/2007

Home favourite Bradley Dredge suffered a dramatic last-hole defeat to Richard Sterne in the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor.

South African Sterne clinched victory by one stroke after a birdie on the final hole for a four-under par 65.

Dredge agonisingly blew the chance to become the first Welsh winner of the tournament after missing a six-foot par-putt on the 18th that would have forced a playoff.

The Welshman went round in 67 to finish on 12-under for the tournament along with Mardan Mamat from Singapore (62) and Danish duo Soren Kjeldsen (65) and Mads Vibe-Hastrup (66).

After a dismal start, Dredge produced a remarkable recovery with three straight birdies from the 15th.

But after slicing Sterne's four-shot lead down to a single stroke, he missed a crucial putt on the last hole.

Sterne, 25, fired four birdies in the last five holes to seal his second European Tour title.

Dredge admitted he was disappointed after a stunning back nine at Celtic Manor.

"I'm a bit gutted to say the least, it's a bit of a kick in the nuts," Dredge said.

"I came here to win and I've come second, so that is a disappointment.

I thought I just had to par on the last to win, but my caddie told me I'd need that for a play-off.

"I didn't play the last hole well and have to work on my fairway bunker shots - that cost me on the 18th.

"It wasn't a case of the pressure getting to me. This is what you play and practice for and it was quite exciting over the last few holes, it is a very disappointing way to end."

Sterne pockets the winners' cheque for £250,000 having finished third in last week's PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The result is Dredge's second agonising finish in a fortnight after losing to Padraig Harrington in a nerve-jangling playoff in the Irish Open.

Englishman Paul Broadhurst finished on ten under while Colin Montgomerie ended on seven under.

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