Dyson finally takes tour crown (From Gazette & Herald)

Dyson finally takes tour crown

Malton & Norton golfer Simon Dyson has seen his world ranking place boosted after he won his first European tour, writes Tony Kelly.

After six years on the professional circuit, Dyson broke his European Tour duck when he stormed to victory in the HBSC Jakarta Indonesian Open last weekend.

It was his first European Tour crown, yielding a winner's cheque of more than £92,000 and elevating him to 17th place in the current European Order of Merit - his highest-ever placing.

The victory also enabled the 28-year-old to leap 59 places in the newly-released world rankings to put him in 140th position. And the 20 world ranking points he gained will push him closer to his other 2006 ambition of breaking into the world's top 100 players.

Dyson finished 20-under-par to win the event at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club by two clear strokes after he fended off the challenge of Australia's Andrew Buckle.

He dedicated his seismic shift into Europe's elite to his parents John and Ann, and brother Nick when speaking to the Evening Press: "I wanted to dedicate it to them when I was interviewed straight after winning, but I was just speechless.

"But I would never have got this far without the help and support of my mum and dad and Nick. They've kept me going during times when things were not going so well. They've always been there for me.

"I said 2006 was going to be my year, I just had a feeling I would do it. But to win this early is just amazing - I am so totally over the moon.

"And whatever happens, no-one can take this away from me. It's mine. I've won on the European Tour and it is a dream come true."

His family were watching back at home, including Nick who normally caddies for Simon but had to withdraw because of his asthma, which is heightened amid the humidity of the Far East.

When asked was he regretful that he was not out in Jakarta to share the memorable conquest with his brother, Nick said: "I'm just glad he's won. After all the hard work he has put through, it's just so great that he has come out on top."

Head of the household John is no stranger to sporting achievement. The former book-maker is brother of Tottenham Hotspur legend Terry Dyson, who starred for the famous push-and-run side in the early 1960s that won the first modern-era double of Championship and FA Cup success.

John said: "Just to see Simon win it and win it so well was superb.

"We all knew he had a chance with him sharing the lead with the Australian lad going into the final round, but even if Simon hadn't won we'd have still been so proud. We're just so pleased that he can now say that he was won a European Tour event. It's what he has dreamt of for a long time."

He also disclosed that several friends were considerably better off than four days ago when the tournament started. "Quite a few of them had Simon at 50-1 to win it, so there's a lot of celebrations."

The extra icing on the cake is that it affords him exemption from qualifying for the tough arena of the European Tour for this year and the next two years.

Victory in Jakarta, where he turned in a near flawless exhibition of golf - missing just four greens all week - in steamy temperatures, will also open many more doors. He has already been given a place in the HSBC tournament at the end of the year in Shanghai, where the event carries a guaranteed purse.

And it's out on the Far East where he has enjoyed his best successes. In his rookie year of 2000, Dyson won the Asian Tour.

"I was 50-50 about playing in this week's Singapore Open, but in the form I am in, I'd be mad not to go for it."

Simon Dyson is due to return to Malton & Norton Golf Club on April 8, when he will help to officially open the new driving range.

Leading amateur women's player Emma Duggleby is to partner Dyson in a special exhibition match against Walker Cup ace Gary Wolstenholme and Duggleby's England teammate Rebecca Hudson in the challenge tie.

Updated: 15:47 Wednesday, March 08, 2006