LEE Thompson’s amazing fightback in the Bournemouth Fourball Festival at Dudsbury was foiled when he lost a thrilling play-off to Welshman Matt Dearden.

Thompson, supported by dozens of friends and members, was the only serious challenger as Dearden produced a scintillating final round with seven birdies in a back nine of 29 in his six-under-par 65.

The Dudsbury pro needed to birdie the final three holes to force a play-off – and that is precisely what he did.

“I knew I had to get three at the last but pushed my drive behind trees on the right and it needed a great shot to get close,” he said.

His hooking nine-iron bounded off the bank behind the green, trickled back to within 12 feet and he sank the putt for 67 to match Dearden’s five-under-par 136.

The high-quality golf continued for three extra holes in the gloom until the Welshman who is attached to the Vale Hotel in Cardiff made his second successive birdie to win at the first hole.

A philosophical Thompson, who earned £1,200, said: “It was disappointing but I played really well and I have to be happy with the outcome.”

It climaxed another success in the West Region Race to Woodbury Park order of merit tournament where the outcome was in doubt after 29 players came within shots of the lead after the first round at Broadstone.

Dearden said: “The secret was on the greens as I only needed 11 putts on the back nine. I made four successive birdies from the 12th, holed two 20-footers and didn’t miss anything from inside 12 feet.”

He was full of praise for the event and the Dudsbury course. He said: “This was my first visit for 10 years and I was amazed at the maturity, the way the trees have grown and how good a test of golf it has become.”

Thompson’s consolation was realising that his putt clinched a one-shot win in the betterball alongside Dorset county captain Giles Legg (Ferndown) in an event sponsored by Ringwood Brewery and Dudsbury Golf Club. Legg walked away with a SkyCaddie SGX GPS unit for his two days golf.

Dudsbury assistant James Wilson enjoyed a good tournament and partnered Dudsbury amateur Sean O’Neill into fourth in the team section on 128. He carded 73 71 to share 14th with Scott Porter (Dorset G and CC, 75 69).

Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) was seventh on 142 (69 73), Jon Bevan (Wessex GC) 10th on 143 (72 71).

Local favourites Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury), Martyn Thompson (Parkstone), defending champion Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) and Playgolf Bournemouth’s Gary Emerson finished well down the field.