Local golf professional James Maxwell achieved the greatest win of his fledging career by taking both the individual and team awards in the 54-hole South Wales Festival in horrendous conditions.

Barely a year after becoming a trainee at Trefloyne, the fair-haired 20-year-old led from the start and his success was founded on an unbelievable par round of 71 on the opening day at Pyle and Kenfig where he opened a four-stroke lead.

"It was the best round of my life," he said. "The wind and rain made conditions almost unplayable and I spent all the time trying to dry everything. It was the most brutal weather I have ever experienced on a golf course, but luckily my team kept me going."

It was windy over the punishing Ashburnham links on the second day as Maxwell posted one-over-par 73 to stay at the top. But his lead was trimmed to one as the experienced Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) responded with 69.

Cardiff's Adam Constable could have expected to lead after reaching the 12th hole in six-under for the day and two under for the tournament, but he dropped six shots in the last six holes.

Maxwell's powers of scrambling were put to the test as he battled through more winds at Machynys Peninsular. He made three successive up and downs from the 10th, then bogeyed the 16th and 17th, and needed his third sand save on the back nine to rescue par at the last.

"It was a nervous last day," he admitted as the sun shone for the last six holes for the first time during the week. "I used a new driver for the first time this week and it worked really well.

"The shot that turned my round was when I drove the 14th and made birdie. That settled me down."

His week was complete when his team of Trefloyne father-and-son Dave and Matthew McMann and Tenby member John Ball won the team award on countback from Matthew Evans and his Cleeve Hill trio.

Maxwell, who made a dream start to his professional career by winning his home club's pro-am three weeks after signing on a year ago, is now hoping to play more often next year after winning £1,340.

He is clearly the man to relish bad weather golf in Wales. He finished in the top 10 in each of his four pro-am appearances this summer at Langland Bay, Rhondda, Maesteg and Swansea Bay.

"Each time the weather has been bad," recalled the former Wales under-14 and under-16 player and Dyfed junior captain, who learned to play golf over the tough links at Tenby.

Runner-up Welsh-qualified Howell finished two strokes adrift after a closing 74, with Constable recovering to claim third after also carding 74.

Jon Bevan (Wessex Golf Centre), who started with 80 and ended with 69, shared fourth with Martin Stimson (Ashburnham), helped by an ace at the seventh hole, and Cennydd Mills (Ridgeway), who both finished with 70, and Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy) who returned a closing 71.

South Wales PGA Festival (at Pyle and Kenfig, Ashburnham, Machynys): 217 James Maxwell (Trefloyne) 71 73 73, £1,040, 219 Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) 76 69 74, £800, 221 Adam Constable (Cardiff) 75 72 74 £660, 222 Martin Stimson (Ashburnham) 78 74 70, Jon Bevan (Wessex Golf Centre) 80 73 69, Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy) 78 73 71, Cennydd Mills (Ridgeway) 79 73 70, £412 each, 224 Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) 76 76 72, Alistair Tresidder (Sherborne) 75 80 69, £247 each