Praise was lavished on Tenby Golf Club for the great success of the 2006 Ryder Cup Wales Welsh National Championship held over the historic links for the first time in 42 years.

Even the sun shone for the final day when Cardiff's Sion Bebb completed six momentous weeks in his native country by winning by one shot to retain his title.

He had previously won the Challenge Tour tournament at Nefyn and taken second place in the Wales PGA Open at Marriott St. Pierre.

 He received the trophy from Tenby club captain, David Leeke, who had been one of a dozen members acting as ball-spotters and marshalls during the 54-hole tournament that was preceded by a 37-team pro-am.

Mr. Leeke welcomed the players and many club members and golf fans who enjoyed the high quality of the play. There was particular interest in Stephen Dodd, currently the best golfer in Wales. He has won three tournaments and £1.2 million in prize money during the last 12 months and also brought the World Cup to Wales with Bradley Dredge.

Dodd said: "It was a most enjoyable experience returning to Tenby where I won the Welsh Amateur championship in 1989.

"I am delighted with what I achieved, although the result wasn't exactly as I would have wanted. A lot of my play in general was as good as it has been all season."

He shared fourth place behind runner-up Mark Litton (The Bedford), with Wrexham's Simon Edwards third. Edwards shot the lowest round ever carded in Tenby's 118 years on an eventful first day.

He made 10 threes and eight 4s in a seven-under- par 62, but as the lift-and-place rule was in operation because the fairways had been sprinkled with peat, Dodd's 65 in the pro-am remains the official professional record.

West Wales was well represented and Alun Evans, from Newport Links, returned a superb four-under- par 65 on the final day to jump into seventh position, worth £1,332.

Martin Stimson (Milford Haven) played three steady rounds of 71, 70 and 71 to finish 10th (£984). Andrew Barnett, formerly at Royal St. David's with his father John, shared 11th on 214.

Alex James, 25, from Royal St. David's, won the Assistants' Championship in only his second appearance in the tournament and was placed 17th in the tournament.

 Club secretary David Hancock said: "It has been a great week for the club. It was just a pity the weather did not allow us to prepare really fast greens that are a feature of the course. "Although the course is not long, no-one really brought it to its knees. It stood the test well, despite not being too long.

"It was great to see such a good finish and so many top quality players taking part. All our members who turned up appreciated the standard of play. "Tenby has been very proud to hold such a prestigious event."

John Jermine, chairman of Ryder Cup Wales, said: "The aim was to raise the profile of this event this year and we have succeeded by attracting European Tour and Challenge Tour players to such an established and famous old course as Tenby." Leading final scores:

203 Sion Bebb (The Vale) 69, 64, 70 (£6,150). 204 Mark Litton (The Bedford) 69, 70, 65 (£4,100). 206 Simon Edwards (Clays) 62, 73, 71 (£3,280). 207 Stephen Dodd (European Tour) 66, 71, 70; Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) 71, 72, 64; Matt Dearden (The Vale) 70, 68, 69 (£1,797 each). 208 Alun Evans (Newport Links) 72, 71, 65 (£1,332). 210 Alex Rowland (Harwarden) 74, 69, 67; Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre) 70, 71, 69 (£1,148 each). 212 Martin Stimson (Milford Haven) 71, 70, 71 (£984). 214 Andrew Barnett (North Wales Driving Range) 75, 70, 69; Ian Harrison (Golf Centre, Pontypool) 72, 72, 70; James Lee (Caerphilly), James Williams (Pontypridd) 68, 73, 73 (£840 each). 215 Paul Collins (St. Pierre) 74, 69, 72; Jason Neve (Cams Hall Estate) 71, 72, 72 (£717).